STEVAHN FAMILY HOME PAGE
STEVAHN FAMILY HOMEPAGE
Germans from Russia
WELCOME! My
name is Jacob, I am of German descent and originally from Elgin, North
Dakota.
My ancestors immigrated in the year 1814 from the area of
Hess-Darmstadt
and Posen-Prussia, Germany to the area of Kassel, Glueckstal District
of
Odessa, South Russia. In 1894 my grandparents immigrated to the United
States
of America and made homestead in the area of Wishek, North Dakota. In
1906
they moved to the Elgin area of North Dakota. I became interested in
family
history in 1992 when attending a family reunion. I must say though, I
went
into this blindly, stumbling along and finding out there is more to
genealogy
then meets the eye. I have always enjoyed history and research, so this
became
a natural for me. I applied for membership in several Germans from
Russian
Associations and started my journey in the search of my Ancestors. Made
many
inquires, began to find sources, purchased records and documents to use
in
my home. I now have a good collection of Birth, Marriages, Death,
Census
and other documented indexes on file. By far I'm not an authority on
the
subject, however I continue to learn and I'm enjoying this wonderful
journey
of tracing my family roots and history. Your comments, suggestions and
questions
are welcome, or if you can provide source information please send me an
e-mail
at. [email protected]
Thank you for visiting the Stevahn Family Home Page. It is my
hope
you will find something of interest which may help you in your family
research.
The information on this web site is for personal use only. All pages
may
not be copied in whole or in part and published or distributed in any
manner
without written consent of the author. I will continually be updating
and
adding to this site. Your comments or suggestions are always welcome. I
invite
you to browse through the surnames listed below. If you find any
familiar
names, I'd apprciate hearing from you. Please take amoment and sign my
Guestbook.
Family History
My "Stephan/Stefan/Stevahn" family in the year 1814
immigrated
from
Hess/Darmstadt and Posen/Prussia, Germany through Poland to the area of
Glueckstal
district the colony of Kassel/Odesaa, South Russia. My
G-G-GreatGrandfather "Gottfried Stephan" voted in the 1821 election for
the Mayer of Kassel, and
signed his vote with an "X" (taken from the Odessa State Archives). In
1894
my Grandparents came to the United States, settling in the Wishek area
of
North Dakota applied for and received a homestead near Wishek in
McIntosh
County, North Dakota. In 1906 they moved to the Elgin area of Morton
County.
In 1916 part of Morton County, where Elgin was located, became Grant
County.
In 1909 Michael bought a farm 2 and 1/2 miles southeast of Elgin. On
this
farm I was born in 1934 and remaind on the farm with my parents for
several
years. The name spelling of "Stephan" became Stefan in South Russia,
because
there is no "h" in the Russian alphabet. Many German families however
held
fast to their homeland traditions, even though the Russian goverment
mandated
them to use Russian. When the immigrants arrived at Ellis Island in the
United
States, a few requested a name change as a new beginning. It is not
certian
when the Stefan or Stephan name was changed, however historical records
indicate
that most name changes occured during the naturalization process and
not
necessarily at Ellis Island.
My Grandparents
Michael and Barbara "Imhoff" Stevahn
Married Sep. 6, 1890 in
Kassel,South Russia
Michael b: Oct. 11 1869 - Barbarab: Apr. 11, 1869
Kassel, South Russia
A Brief History of
Their
Immigration
They left homes and family in Kassel and joined other
immigrants that left by ship from Hamburg, Germany after a long train
ride in boxcars, (women in one and men in another). After being bathed,
de-loused, and fed they were ferried out to the ship and were taken
aboard. In the emigrant ship
they brought with them what they thought to be indispensable to adecent
life
afloat. From two to three weeks, depending on the size of the ship and
weather
conditions, they spent crossing the ocean. During that time they kept
themselves
busy they sewed, played cards, sang to music of harmonicas, and
continually
checking their exit papers. As America came nearer, some became very
nervous.
Far down in the lower bay of New York City, they crowded to the rail to
eye
their first Americans in the persons of immigration inspectors. The
harbor
was sometimes choked with ships at anchor. Soon the newcomers would be
on
the docks sorting their bundles and tagged with numbers. The immigrants
were
shipped aboard a ferry or barge to what was to be known as "the isle of
tears"
the clearing station, Ellis Island. They moved in single file through a
stock
yard maze of passage ways and under the eye of a doctor with a piece of
chalk.
About eight in ten survived this scrutiny and passed to the final
ordeal,
the examination before an immigration inspector standing with an
interpreter.
Questions were asked and finally your name was checked against the
ships
manifest. Many people were lucky to emerge into the new life with their
old
name. Many had long names and hard to spell, so the inspector promptly
wrote
down what he thought he heard. Most immigrants could hardly speak a
word
of English except the name they memorized as the town of their
destination.
By this time the immigrants only concern was to get off Ellis Island.
Now
after another ferry ride, they set foot on the earth of the land that
was
their hopes and dreams. They were now in the land which they longed to
make
their permanent home.
Vessel
ThumbNail Picture, Click to Enlarge
|
Michael and
Barbara
Stevahn; sailed on the
Vessel SS Spree, from
Bremen, Germany to
New York arrival at
Ellis
Island April 12, 1894.
Listed on the Ship's
manifast as Stefan.
|
Click to View
Ship
Photo Album
The Stevahn Family Tree
Approximately 5300 Entries
Like branches on a tree
We may grow in different directions
Yet our roots remain as one
Each of our lives will always be a special part of the other.
Click to View
Stevahn
Family Tree
Families
by
Surname
A Stevahn Family Tree Book is avalible.
For information send e-mail to:
[email protected]
Surnames
Names I am Researching
| Finck |
Frey |
Fuchs |
Goehring |
Gruszie |
Guthmiller |
| Imhoff |
Ketterling |
Koepplin |
Lang |
Maier |
Martel |
| Martell |
Medinger |
Metzger |
Minderlen |
Mueller |
Muenz |
| Opp |
Pleinis |
Reich |
Richter |
Rivinius |
Schnabel |
| Stefan |
Stephan |
Stevahn |
Timm |
Walth |
Zimmerman |
Locations
Villages I am Researching
| Bergdorf |
Bessarabian |
Glueckstal |
Kassel |
NeuArcis |
NeuDorf |
| Odessa |
Posen |
Prussia |
Hessen |
Darmstadt |
Germany |
| Baden |
Alsace |
Wurttemberg |
Simonsfeld |
Riedsalz |
Poland |
Stevahn Family Album
Thumb Nail Pictures, Click to Enlarge
Michael Stevahn Farm
|
The main house
and
root celler was built in 1904 and still stands today.
|
|
The center
structure
is the original barn which is still in use.
|
Grandparents
My Fathers Parents
|
|
Michael and
Barbara
"Imhoff" Stevahn
Married: Sept. 6, 1890
Kassell, South Russia
|
|
Barbara Imhoff
born: April 11,1869
Kassel South Russia
died: March 8, 1946
Hebron, North Dakota
|
My Mothers Parents
|
Jacob Sr. and
Christina
"Guthmiller" Martell
Married; Oct. 27, 1903
Elgin, North Dakota
|
|
Christina
Guthmiller
born: Feb. 15, 1885
Eureka, South Dakota
died: Dec. 13, 1972
Dickinson, North Dakota
|
Links to my Photo Album, Click on names to
view.
Children of Michael and
Barbara Stevahn
Philippina
Stevahn, Koepplin, Weisenburger Gustav
Stevahn, Lydia Ketterling, Elisa Martell
Christ
Stevahn, Hilda Bickel Jacob
Stevahn Sr., Olga Martell Henry
Stevahn, Martha Magstadt
Reinhold
Stevahn, Ida Martell Eva
Stevahn,
Koepplin, Schatz Beatta
Stevahn Bertha
Stevahn
Grandchildren of Michael and Barbara Stevahn
Vernold
H. Stevahn, Juanita R. Turpen, Barbara L. Henry
Dorothy
Stevahn, Whitlow, Reilly Eleanor
Stevahn, Martell Ruby
Stevahn, Leno
Laura
P. Stevahn, Krause Irene
F. Stevahn, Garvin, Thompson Fern
I. Stevahn, Adolf
Jacob
M. Stevahn Jr., Russell Gavilan, Valerie Johnson, Greene
LaVerne
F. Stevahn, Thorp Lester
R. Stevahn, Sondra Monroe, Rebeca Davidson
Leo
Stevahn,
Ellen M. Rowely Ina
Stevahn,
Pekas Edna
Stevahn, Elavsky, Cole
Barbara
Stevahn, Udell Leona
Stevahn, Pekas, Amann
Ruth
Stevahn, Kitzmann, Blanset, Hinman Erna
Stevahn, Babcox
Clara
Koepplin, Barker Amanda
Koepplin, Palmer Edna
Koepplin, Deering Lenora
Koepplin, Gray
Patricia
Stevahn, Zimmerman Adeline
B. Stevahn, Theurer
Emma
Koepplin, Birkholz Herbert
Koepplin, Donna Anderson
Deloris
H. Stevahn, Hafner Larry
Stevahn, Carol Kluck
Great Grandchildren of Michael and Barbara Stevahn
Michelle
J. Stevahn, Cowden
Mark
A. Stevahn Baily, Julie, Beth Davis Jynell
L. Stevahn Baily, Shealy, Hiatt, St.Angelo
Bruce
A. Thorp, Marian Johnson, Lori A. Wolfenbarger Richard
D. Thorp, Jennifer Lewis
Debra
A. Pekas, Dutchuk Laurel
Ann Stevahn Douglas
L. Pekas, Jody A. Coe
Douglas
R. Martell, Cynthia Brown, Nancy K. Cook Linda
R. Martell, Rickert
Allen
L. Martell, Debora L. Suverly Patrica
E. Stevahn, Henry, Clark
Leon
R. Kitzman, Sandra Harding, Betty Ann Ridson
Terrence
Stevahn, Melinda Mayer
Great Great Grandchildren of Michael and Barbara Stevahn
Megan
R. Cowden Melanie Cowden
Stephanie
M. Baily Brandon
Shealy, Nicole Christopher
D. Hiatt
Carly
A. Thorp Josiah
J. Thorp, Kimberly Miller
Randy
S. Rickert, Melanie A. Martincek
Great Great Great Grandchildren of Michael and Barbara
Stevahn
Hailey
Shealy Hannah
Thorp
Brothers and Sisters of Michael Stevahn
Johann
Stevahn Jr., Regina Finck Karoline
Stevahn, Gruszie Barbara
Stevahn, Ketterling
Martell Family Album
My Great Grandparents
Fredrick, Sr. and Christina
"Retzer"
Martel
My Mothers Grandparents.
Fredrick
Martel Sr., Christina Retzer Jacob
Martell Sr., Christina Guthmiller
Cemetery Album
Headstones
Click to View
The Stevahn Family Reunion is held on the
last Saturday and Sunday of June of every odd numbered year.
The event is held in Newberg Oregon. For additional information please
reply at
this
e-mail.
[email protected]
Reunion
Album
Click to View
Sign
Guestbook ViewGuestbook
I'd like to know you were here.
Please take a moment and sign my Guestbook.
Thank you, come again!
You are our visitor 
thanks for stopping by!
This page created and maintained by Jacob M. Stevahn.
Last update January 1, 2003.
Some of My Favorite Links
American
Historical Society of
Germans from Russia
Cyndi's
List
of Genealogy Sites on the Internet
Odessa
German
Russian Full Text Search
German Genealogy
Cross-Index
(FEEFHS)
Harold Ehrman Web Site
Germans from Russia Heritage
Society
(Bismark North Dakota)
Germans from
Russia
Heritage Collection NDSU Libraries
Glueckstal Colony
Research
Association
Germans
from Russia Living in the Dakotas
Affiliate member of
This site is generously
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