NOTE: The family name is spelled interchangeably Grein and Krein throughout the Kellenbach records. 		M ICHEL GREIN first appears on the parish records of Kellenbach in the 1703 baptismal record of a daughter born to him and his wife MARIA MARGARETHA -----. Kellenbach is the parish 6 km north of Kirn in the Palatinate, between Meinz and Trier, that encompasses the town of Henau, long the residence of the Kreins. The records suggest that the Michel Greins were new to the parish but native to the general area. Sponsors at the baptisms of their children were from other area towns such as Schwarzerden, Sargenroth and Sohrschied. The family was not, however, the first Krein family to appear on the Kellenbach records. Among the very first entries was the 9 November 1685 marriage of Hanß Peter Grein, son of the late Georg Grein, and Anna Ursula Höffner, daughter of the late Johannes Höffner of Henau. A note that follows, in a different hand, states that Georg Greÿn was from Meisenheim (a town 20 km southeast of Henau). Five children of Peter and Ursula appear on the record between 1686 and 1693, and in that record we find that Peter had a brother Adam, a junior journeyman in 1691.
    The baptismal entries for the children of Michel and Margaretha take a curious form. The first two are found in chronological sequence in 1703 and 1705, the latter of which is repeated and grouped with the next three children in 1712. There is also a period between 1712 and 1721 in which no entries are found for more of their children - time enough for three or four more. The 1712 entry for Dielman is of special interest for its list of sponsors, among whom were PHILIP GREIN the child's "altvatter" and ANNA MARGARETHA the child's "altmutter". Literally, altmutter means "old mother" but more generally refers to a female ancestor. Similarly, altvater literally means "old father" but has the more specific meaning of the retired head of a family, even patriarch, with life estate. Both are certainly the child's ancestors - most likely, but not necessarily, his grandparents. Additionally, Michel's sister Maria Margaretha was a sponsor at the baptism of her namesake, and at the baptism of Elisabetha in 1721 was David Grein, a native of Henau but of unkown relation.
    Records beyond Kellenbach will need to be studied for further information on Michel's ancestry. The possibilities suggested to this point are that Georg and Philip may be brothers or that both Michel and Peter are sons of Georg and grandsons of Philip.
    Since no marriage record has been found at Kellenbach for Michel and Margaretha, it is not known whether the children recorded there are the only issue of theirs.
Children of Michel Grein and Maria Margaretha ----- :
  1. ANNA ELISABETHA GREIN, born 7 January 1703 in Henau and baptized the 22nd of the same month at Kellenbach.
     
  2. MARIA MARGARETHA GREIN, born 13 February 1705 in Henau and baptized the 22nd of February at Kellenbach. The repeated record gives the 14th as the birthdate and the 19th of February as the date of baptism.
     
  3. ANNA KLEER GREIN, born 12 April 1707 at Henau and baptized the 15th of April at Kellenbach.
     
  4. JOHANN CONRAD GREIN, born 17 February 1709 at Henau and baptized the 19th of the same month. Married Susanna ----- and appears to have had a stepfamily. He died at Henau 18 May 1756, aged 47 years and 3 months.
     
  5. JOHANN DIELMANN GREIN, born 3 February 1712 at Henau and was buried 24 December 1769 at Winterburg after drowning in a flooded stream. He married ANNA MARGARETHA SCHLARB who died at Schwarzerden 6 April 1795, aged 80 years and 5 months.
     
  6. CHILD GREIN ? born circa 1714.
     
  7. CHILD GREIN ? born circa 1716.
     
  8. CHILD GREIN ? born circa 1718.
     
  9. CHILD GREIN ? born circa 1720.
     
  10. MARIA ELISABETHA GREIN, born 25 August 1721 at Henau and baptized the 30th at Kellenbach.
     
  11. MARIA JULIANA GREIN, born 29 January 1724 at Henau.
 





 J OHANN DIELMANN GREIN was born 3 February 1712 the son of Michel Grein and Maria Margaretha ----- and was baptized the 7th of the same month. His name was alternately spelled Thielmann or Tilemann and often abbreviated Diel or Theil. The frequent use of T instead of D in the spelling is a result of the consonant shift that occurred in some dialects and is a guide to the dialectic pronunciation of his name.
    He was 57 years old when on 24 December 1769 he was buried at Winterburg after drowning in a "swollen" stream.
From the parish records of Kellenbach:

1769 Ist Joh: Diel Grein von Henau ist in einer austgeshwollenen bach zu Winterburg ertrunken und den 24ten 10bris daselbst begraben worden; alt 57 jahr.

    His wife, whom he married sometime before October 1738, was ANNA MARGARETHA SCHLARB who died at Schwarzerden 6 April 1795, aged 80 years and 5 months, setting her birth near the end of 1714.
Children of Johann Dielmann Grein and Anna Margaretha Schlarb :
  1. JOHANN CHRISTOPH GREIN, baptized 7 October 1738 at Kellenbach. Though his name was not explicitly given, the evidence points to his being named after one of the baptismal sponsors, Christophel Grohe. He married MARIA CATHARINA SCHLARB, 23 August 1763.
     
  2. JOHANN CONRAD GREIN, baptized 29 October 1741 at Kellenbach. He too was not named explicitly, however, the evidence suggests he was named after baptismal sponsor, and probably an uncle, Conrad Grein of Henau. Conrad married Maria Elisabetha Klein.
     
  3. MARIA ELISABETHA GREIN, born 13 March 1745 at Henau and baptized the 17th and named for her aunt Maria Elisabetha, daughter of Michel Grein. She married Michael Scherer 9 July 1772.
     
  4. JOHANN TILEMAN GREIN (Dielman), born 9 April 1747 at Henau and baptized the 13th of the same month. He died 12 November 1750 aged 3 years and 7 months.
     
  5. ANNA ELISABETHA GREIN, born 1 December 1749 at Henau.
     
  6. JOHANN ADAM GREIN, born 25 February 1752 at Henau and died 21 February 1753 aged 1 year.
     
  7. ANNA CATHARINA GREIN, born 1 August 1754 at Henau, confirmed 1768, married Johann Conrad Aßman, son of Johannes Aßman, in April 1777. A daughter Anna Elisabetha died 3 January 1802.
     
  8. ANNA MAGDALENA GREIN, born 26 September 1757 at Henau, confirmed at Kellenbach, 1770, age 13.
 





J OHANN CHRISTOPH GREIN was baptized at Kellenbach 7 October 1738 the son of Johann Dielmann (Thielmann) Grein and his wife Anna Margaretha Schlarb. While the baptismal record does not explicitly give his name, invariably a child was named for one of the sponsors - most often after the first listed, but this rule is more variable.
1738, 8bris ...

7 dito Joh. Thiel Grein und s ehefr Aa Margr: zu Henau, eine sohn taufen laßen, zeugen warr Christophel Groh, des alt Vaters Sohn, ibid, Bernhard Monsteiner, ibid, und Aa Clara, Joh. Theißen fr: von Mengershied.

[7 October 1738, Johann Thielmann Grein and his wife Anna Margaretha, from Henau, had a son baptized; witnesses were Christoph Grohe, son of the "old father", from Henau; Bernhard Monsteiner, from Henau; and Anna Clara, Johann Theißen's wife from Mengershied]
    The whole of the Kellenbach record makes it quite clear that this is the baptismal entry for Christoph Grein. Again the term "altvater" is used, suggesting a relationship between the Grohes and the Kreins. This is suggested in other ways in the Kellenbach records but nothing is yet clear.
    Christoph was united in marriage at Kellenbach on 23 February 1763 to MARIA CATHARINA SCHLARB, born 23 April 1744 the daughter of Balthasar Schlarb of Schwarzerden.
Children of Johann Christoph Grein and Maria Catharina Schlarb :
  1. JOHANN KONRAD GREIN, born 2 March 1765 at Henau and married ANNA MAGDALENA PETRI at Kellenbach 4 October 1791.
     
  2. JOHANN MICHAEL GREIN, born 2 April 1767 at Henau, confirmed 1780 at age 14 and married 8 February 1791 to Anna Elisabetha Käster, daughter of Martin Käster from Hambach.
     
      Children:  MARIA CATHARINA, born 1 August 1791;    MARIA ELISABETHA, born 26 December 1792;    CATHARINA ELISABETHA, born 15 May 1794, died 17 August 1801;    MARIA ELISABETHA, born 21 June 1798;    ELISABETHA CATHARINA, born 30 November 1801.
     
  3. SUSANNA ELISABETHA GREIN, born 30 March 1769, died 30 March 1770.
     
  4. JOHANN DANIEL GREIN, born 8 March 1771 at Henau.
     
  5. JOHANN PETER GREIN, born 31 October 1773 at Henau.
     
  6. CHILD GREIN ? born circa 1775.
     
  7. MARIA CATHARINA GREIN, born 6 June 1777 at Henau.
     
  8. JOHANN CHRISTOPH GREIN, "Stoffel", born 4 January 1780 at Henau.
     
  9. ANNA MAGDALENA GREIN, born 23 April 1781, confirmed 1794 and married Johann Adam Schmidt, the son of Conrad Schmidt, in the year 1801.
     
  10. CHILD GREIN ? born circa 1786.
     
  11. JOHANN NICKEL GREIN, born 26 May 1788, confirmed in 1801 at age 14.
 





NOTE: Two generations of the Grosholz family were foresters in Weitersborn. One child is known to have been baptized at Seesbach.





























J OHANN KONRAD KREIN was the first child born to Johann Christoph Grein and Maria Catharina Schlarb on 2 March 1765 at Henau in the Palatinate. He married at Kellenbach, 4 October 1791, ANNA MAGDALENA PETRI the daughter of Franz Petri of Schwarzerden, just south of Henau, north of Kirn and midway between Mainz and Trier.
    The storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789 marked the beginning of the French revolution. The monarchy fell in 1791 and soon a coalition of nine neighboring states declared war on the new republic in an effort to restore the monarchy. Early French setbacks were soon reversed and by the end of 1793 the allies were pushed back east of the Rhine; Alsace and the Palatinate were ceded to France and Mainz was recaptured. Among the foremost French military leaders was Napoleon Bonaparte. In early 1796 the 26 year old Napoleon was placed in command of the entire French army.
    That same year, French troops invaded the Upper Rhine. The entire Rhine valley, Württemberg, Franconia and Bavaria were occupied. The enemy troops "descended upon the German populace like swarms of hungry wolves. The contributions and requisitionings were terrible. The soldiers abused the land to the utmost: I blush with shame to lead an army that behaves in such an unworthy manner ...", wrote General Jourdan. In 1799 Napoleon staged a coup d'etat and was made First Counsel with nearly dictatorial powers.
    On 9 February 1801 peace was concluded with Austria at Lunéville. The accord set, among other things, the Rhine River, from Switzerland to the Netherlands, as the eastern boundary of France. The results of a plebescite in 1802 made Napoleon First Counsul for life and in May of 1804 he was elected Emperor. The year 1805 saw the formation of the Third Coalition by Great Britain, Russia, Austria, Sweden and the Kingdom of Naples with the goal to force France back behind its former borders. On the same day, October 20, the French defeated the Austrians at Ulm, Admiral Nelson defeated the French fleet at Trafalgar. In July 1806 sixteen German states formed the Confederation of the Rhine, with Napoleon as protector. Under this protectorate, several areas northeast and southwest of Kirn were ceded to Baden in 1803, encompassing the towns of Henau, Schwarzerden and Weitersborn. The years 1800-1810 ushered in hard times and the men were conscripted into the French Army. Many young men forsook their fatherland to escape military service and are found in the lists of emigration.
    The birthplaces of the Krein children attest to the turmoil in Europe at the turn of the 18th century and give evidence that the family was on the move even before emigrating to Russia. The records of Kellenbach additionally show: (1) Conrad Grein of Hänau was a sponsor at a baptism in July 1796; (2) Conrad Krein of Weitersborn was a sponsor at a baptism in July 1800 - "... Conrad Krein, Hofmann des Forster Grosholz in Weitersborn." and (3) Anna Magdalena Petri, wife of Conrad Krein, of Weitersborn was a sponsor at a baptism in February 1802.
    In July of 1803, the six members of the Conrad Krein family arrived at Heilsbach (Hilsbach), Czarny Las, Poland, then South Prussia, along with nearly 30 other families from the 'French Republic'. Heilsbach was 120 miles Southwest of Warsaw, near Czestochowa. The history of South Prussia was a short one, lasting only from the second division of Poland in 1793 until the defeat of Prussia by Napoleon in the year 1806. The lands of South Prussia were then returned to the Polish nobility under the Grand Duchey of Warsaw. The position of the german settlers soon became untenable and large numbers of families began to migrate to newly opened lands in southern Russia.
    With their Russian passport in hand, Konrad Krein, age 44, his wife, Anna Magdalena, with their children Margaretha, Franz Michael, Friedrich and Konrad, along with one horse, began their trek toward the Black Sea. They arrived at Lemberg (present day L'vov, Ukraine) on 6 November 1808 and then, just west of the Russian border, at Brody on 9 November. They likely had to endure a four week quarantine at Brody followed by another three to four weeks of travel to the Odessa area.
    Konrad was a widower when he died 27 December 1843 at Neudorf, Kerson, South Russia. Anna Magdalena most likely died before 1833 at Neudorf.
Children of Johann Konrad Krein and Anna Magdalena Petri :
  1. MARIA MARGARETHA KREIN, born 21 November 1792 at Henau in the Palatinate and married Georg Friedrich Helm. The combined information from two passport records given in Stumpp states that Friedrich was married, but childless, and had emigrated from Oberhausen, Department Koblenz (a town a few kilometers south-southwest of Henau) and was bound for Neudorf. The passport was endorsed at Kuhlhausen, 21 September 1808. He may have lived in Kuhlhausen for a time and removed to Neudorf with a number of his neighbors. It is entirely possible he was previously married, and his young wife died enroute or soon after arriving in Neudorf. It is also possible he was connected to the Leonhard Helm family of four, from Oberhausen, arrived at Heilsbach in July 1803 as did the Kreins.
        Margaretha died of old age, 5 October 1864 at Neudorf, aged 70 years, 11 months and 5 days.
     
       Children:  MARIA MAGDALENA, born about 1811, married Georg Thurn before 1833;    FRIEDRICH KARL, born about 1813, married Barbara Doerr 12 November 1835;    JOHANN KONRAD, born 1816;    HELM CHILD? born about 1818;    HELM CHILD ? born about 1820, perhaps Christina who married Christian Morlock 20 February 1840;    LUDWIG, born about 1822 married Catharina Schauer 20 November 1845;    KATARINA, born about 1824, married Adam Doerr 22 October 1846;    MICHAEL, born about 1827, married Barbara Martel 21 November 1850;    JACOB, born about 1829, married Carolina Schauer 5 February 1852 and died 21 February 1875;    KAROLINA, born about 1831, married Gottfried Adam 22 October 1853;    twins CONRAD and JOHANN DANIEL, born 13 July 1833, but both died of Small Pox in July of 1834 - Daniel on the 3rd and Conrad on the 19th;    CAROLINA MARGARETHA, born 7 July 1835.
     
  2. TWIN GIRL KREIN, stillborn 21 November 1792 at Henau.
     
  3. FRANZ MICHAEL KREIN, born 9 July 1795 at Henau in the Palatinate. He married BARBARA UNRATH about 1815 in Russia and died at Neudorf 11 October 1859.
     
  4. FRIEDRICH KREIN, was 38 years old when he died at Neudorf of TB 3 October 1834. His birthplace was given as Schwarzerden in "Frankreich" (France). Anna Maria Bollinger was the mother of his youngest daughter, but it is not known she was Friedrich's first wife. He lived for a time in the Bessarabian town of Tarutino and perhaps also in Borodino. The picture of his family remains unclear, but looks as follows:
     
      Children:  FRIEDRICH was born about 1821 and it appears that he and his young family were living with his uncle Konrad during the 1858 Neudorf census;   MICHAEL was born in 1826 at Neudorf and it appears that he too was living with his uncle Konrad during the 1858 Neudorf census. His death at Giderim, 27 January 1862 was recorded in the Freudental church records;   MADGALENA married Gottlieb Weiss 27 December 1850 at the parish of Klöstitz, Bessarabia;   ELISABETHA, born 1830, married Christoph Seebold 29 August 1851 at the parish of Klöstitz, Bessarabia. Their children were born at Hoffnungstal between 1853 and 1867;   CHRISTINA KAROLINA was born 2 April 1834 at Tarutino, baptized the 30th of April and died of TB at Neudorf 20 October 1834, soon after her father.
     
  5. JOHANN KONRAD KREIN, was 54 years, 5 months and 15 days old when he died of high yellow fever at Neudorf 29 April 1854. His death record lists his place of birth as Weitersborn in Baden. He was married to Katharina Schmidt, born about 1800 in Würtemberg and died 3 January 1876.
     
      Children:  MARIA MAGDALENA, born 19 April 1822;   FRIEDRICH, born about 1832, married Elisabetha Haas 27 November 1851;   MAGDALENA, born 26 September 1835;   DANIEL, born 20 June 1838, married Magdalene Reuther 19 November 1857;  There was also a MARGARETHA who married Philipp Willt 14 October 1847 who may have been theirs. The 1858 census also listed an unmarried granddaughter Maria Schock, born about 1840.
 





F RANZ MICHAEL KREIN was born at Henau in the Palatinate 9 July 1795 and was baptized at Kellenbach on the 13th of the same month. In the same year France annexed all lands west of the Rhine. He was the son of Johann Konrad Krein and Anna Magdalena Petri and emigrated with his family to Heilsbach (Hilsbach), Czarny Las, Poland, in 1803 and then in 1808 to Neudorf, Kerson, South Russia one of the four newly established colonies in the Glückstal District. He was married about 1815 to BARBARA UNRATH, daughter of Balthasar Unrath and his wife Maria Margaretha Jung of nearby Glückstal. Barbara was born 25 July 1796 at Schwieberdingen, Lüdwigsburg, Würtemberg, and died 2 November 1875 at Neudorf. Franz Michael died at Neudorf also 11 October 1859.
Children of Franz Michael Krein and Barbara Unrath :
An 1898 letter from Helena Krein Karsis,of Sevastopol, reports news from Neudorf of her aunts and uncles and several cousins.

Christian Rempfer made a return visit to Russia in 1913-14 with his daughter Emma. He recorded in his REISE NACH EUROPA their visits with members of the Krein family, including siblings of his father-in-law, Michael Krein.
  1. FRANZ KONRAD KREIN was 3 months old at the time of the 1816 Neudorf census. He married Christina Waltz 19 January 1837. Births of twelve children are on the church books at Neudorf. Christina died 11 April 1883, aged 64 years and 4 months.
     
      Children:  JOHANNES, born 3 April 1838;   ANNA CHRISTINA, born 23 November 1839 and died 20 July 1840;   MAGDALENA, born 7 May 1841;   CATHARINA, born 13 July 1843 and died 11 February 1846;   ELISABETHA MARGARETHA, born 15 September 1845;   FRANZ CONRAD, born 3 March 1848;   CHRISTIAN, born 24 May 1850, married Magdalena Schauer, died in 7 November 1930 at home of son Jacob, Wishek, McIntosh, North Dakota;   CATHARINA, born 16 August 1852;   CHRISTINA, born 5 February 1855;   BARBARA, born 16 April 1857;   EVA, born 26 January 1860;   JAKOB, born 30 May 1862.
     
  2. CHILD KREIN ? born circa 1818. Information on the children was gleened from the 1816 and 1858 Neudorf censuses which did not record maiden names of females once married. There was no candidate male evident from the 1858 census and no candidate female evident from the 1830s marriage record.
     
  3. MICHAEL KREIN, born on or about 22 December 1819 at Neudorf. He married BARBARA GEHRING 22 October 1840. They raised ten chidlren and emigrated to America in 1885. They both died in Herr, Sheridan County, North Dakota, near McClusky - Barbara in 1903 and Michael on 20 December 1906.
     
  4. DANIEL KREIN, according to the list of Neudorf increases of 1822, was born 23 September 1822 but probably died before 1833.
     
  5. GOTTLIEB KREIN, born about 1824 in Neudorf and married Christina Maier 21 November 1848. He was still living in Neudorf in 1898.
     
      Children:  JAKOB, born about 1849;   CHRISTINA, born 20 June 1853;   BARBARA, born 17 September 1855 and died 28 December 1864 aged 9 years 3 months;   DANIEL, born 11 September 1857 and died 28 February 1875 aged 17 years, 5 months and 17 days;   GOTTLIEB, born 8 March 1860 and died 6 April 1881, aged 21 years and 29 days;   FRANZ MICHAEL, born 26 November 1862;   JOHANN, born 7 March 1866 and died 27 January 1884, aged 17 years, 10 months and 20 days.
     
  6. JOHANNES KREIN, born about 1826 in Neudorf and married Margaretha Graff Bohlender, the widow of Johann Dieter Bohlender. She appears to have been 15 years his senior. Christian Rempfer and daughter Emma visited Johann in January 1914 at Neudorf.
     
      Children:  GOTTLIEB, born 23 October 1846;   JOHANNES, born about 1850;   GEORG, born 28 October 1852.
     
  7. JAKOB KREIN, born about 1828 in Neudorf and married Dorothea Bonnet 21 November 1850. Both were still living in Neudorf in 1898 and Christian Rempfer and daughter Emma visited Jakob in January 1914 at Neudorf.
     
      Children:  FRANZ, born 6 October 1851 and died 4 days later on 10 October;   BARBARA born 4 December 1852;   JOHANN, born 24 November 1854;   GOTTLIEB, born 26 February 1857;   KATHARINA, born 28 March 1859 and died 21 January 1862;   DOROTHEA, born 2 July 1861;   JACOB, born 25 November 1865.
     
  8. KARL KREIN, born about 1830 in Neudorf and married Christina Heinz 21 November 1852 at Kassel. Karl died in 1898.
     
      Children:  KATHARINA, born 19 January 1854;   FRANZ, born 20 October 1855 and died 25 February 1857 aged 1 year, 4 months and 24 days;   KAROLINA, born 26 November 1857;   MICHAEL, born 16 December 1859, married Elisabetha -----, emigrated in 1885 with wife and son Jacob, died 1918 in North Dakota;   CHRISTINA, born 4 March 1862;   JOHANN, born 11 July 1864;   MAGDALENA, born 1 December 1877 in Malhon.
     
  9. CHILD KREIN ? born circa 1831. One candidate female would be CATHARINA KREIN, age 26 in 1858, who married Christian Mittleider, age 33 in 1858.
     
  10. ROSINA KREIN, born 28 November 1833 and died 13 September 1834, aged 3/4 year.
     
  11. CHRISTINA KREIN, born 15 September 1835 in Neudorf and married Theobald Graff 11 November 1856. She was 22 on 1858 census while Theobald was 25. Both were still living in Neudorf in 1898. Christian Rempfer and daughter Emma visited "the youngest sister of ... Michael Krein" in January 1914 at Neudorf.
     
      Children:  JOHANN, born 12 October 1857;   CONRAD, born 16 November 1859 and died before August 1862;   KATHARINA, born 10 February 1861;   CONRAD, born 21 August 1862 and died before September 1866;   THEOBALD, born 21 November 1864;   CONRAD, born 10 September 1866;   CHRISTINA, born 17 August 1877.
     
  12. BARBARA KREIN, born 15 September 1838 in Neudorf and died 12 October 1855 aged 17 years and 27 days.
 





 M ICHAEL KREIN was born on or about 22 December 1819, the second child to Franz Michael Krein and Barbara Unrath at Neudorf, Kerson, South Russia. He was married to BARBARA GEHRING 22 October 1840 at Neudorf. They came to America to join many of their children who began emigrating in 1874. Michael and Barbara arrived in New York 2 March 1885 aboard the Steam Ship Werra out of Bremen via Southampton. They were accompanied by their son Michael Jr. On 22 April 1885 Michael, Barbara and Michael Jr. made settlement on 160 acres 5 miles east of Tripp, Hutchinson County, Dakota Territory and duly registered a Pre-emptive Declaratory Statement, #7851, the following day. At the Land Office in Yankton, D.T. September 8, 1885:
I, Michael Krein, senior, of Scotland P.O., D.T. who made Pre-emption Declaratory Statement No. 7851 for the South East 1/4 6-97-59 do hereby give notice of my intention to make final proof to establish my claim to the land above described, and that I expect to prove my residence and cultivation before Register & Receiver at Yankton D.T., on Friday, Nov. 20, 1885, 9 a.m. by two of the following witnesses:
Martin Baltzer,
Christoph Krämer,
Christoph Permann,
Friedrich Mehlhaff, all of Scotland P.O. D.T.
Michael Krein Sen.
When the obligatory notice appeared in the Scotland Citizen, Heinrich Schaurbul had replaced Michael's son-in-law, Christoph Permann, as a possible witness. On 20 November 1885 Michael Krein Senior, of Scotland P.O. D.T., "which is my trading place" and nearest railroad station, made claim, and Martin Baltzer Jr. and Friedrich Mehlhaff gave witness, that he had erected a 12' by 12' sod and frame house, a corn crib and had dug a well. Also that he had 85 acres of cultivated land from which was harvested 700 bushels of corn and 250 bushels of flax valued at $400. He purchased the land that day for $200 even though there was a conflicting claim that wasn't disallowed until September 1889. A Land Patent was finally issued 18 February 1890.
    Though it appears that he held on to this property for some time, the family didn't stay there very long. In April of 1886 Michael Sr., Michael Jr., and Jacob Krein each filed Homestead claims on lands near Hoskins, McIntosh County, Dakota Territory. Hoskins was later moved a few miles and renamed Ashley - today in North Dakota. In August 1892 Michael Sr. applied to perfect his claim by giving proof that he and his wife had resided on the land continuously since April 1886; that they had erected a 16' by 30' sod house, a 16' by 20' sod barn, a 20' by 30' stone barn, had dug a 12' deep well and had broken 20 acres of land for cultivation - the improvements being valued at $425. He claimed to have raised seven crops over the eight years: on 16 acres in 1886 and 1887, and on 20 acres in the years 1888 through 1892. A Land Patent was issued 31 October 1892. In April of 1886 he also applied for a Timber-Culture on another 160 acres near his Homestead. The 74 year old Michael made proof in April of 1894 that he had had 145 acres under cultivation by the third year and that he presently had 200 box elder trees on each of 10 acres in good condition, "2 feet high and 1/2 inch thick".
    All evidence indicates that Michael and Barbara soon afterward gave up active farm life and went to live with daughter Margaretha, and family, who also lived near Ashley. For some reason that arrangement seems not to have worked out, whence they went to live with daughter Karolina until their deaths. The 1900 Federal Census records Michael and Barbara, along with their daughter Karolina and son-in-law Friedrich Herr, living with their grandson George Herr near Anamoose, McHenry County, North Dakota. They, with Karolina's family, soon afterward removed to a farm at Herr, Sheridan County, North Dakota, eight miles due north of McClusky.
Michael & Barbara Krein
Picture of Michael and Barbara Krein with grandaughter Helena Herr at Sheridan County, North Dakota farm around 1903.
    Barbara was the one who actually filed for the Homestead on this property in November 1901, saying on the affidavit that she was "over 21 years of age and the head of the family, my husband having been permanently disabled on account of rupture from doing any work whatever for over twenty years and I am obliged to support myself and my husband Michael Krein, who is a fully naturalized citizen of the United States, and has made a five year proof on a homestead claim over ten years ago." A copy of Michael's citizenship papers was included in the file and show that he, and therefore his wife, was naturalized at the District Court in MacIntosh County, ND the 1st of June 1892.
    The five year proof on this farm was filed in July of 1908 by "Karolina Herr, one of the heirs of Barbara Krein" on which she stated that "my mother Barbara Krein established her residence on this land in May 1902 and lived there continuously up to the time of her death November 7th, 1903. Since that time I have had the land cultivated and continued to make improvements."
Letter Letter A letter from Karolina to her sister Christina, dated 20 December 1906 reported that father Michael had died and gives evidence of his birthdate.
Transcription:
Herr ND Dec 20 - 06

Leibe Schwester und Schwäger, Gott zum Gruß und den Lieben Heiland zu führer was uns anbelangt; sind wir noch alle Gesund Gerathe. den Liebe Vatter ist gestorben den 20ten Morgans um 5 uhr. Er hat immer Geschlafen 5 Tag und 5 nachte bis er Tot wahr. sie kommen alle zwei auf ihr land. jetz hötte ich eine bilt an euch wen ihr wollt Känt ihr auch etwas thun. Wir möchten das Bletzlein ein-(illegible)-en. Wen ihr alle mithelft es wohre ganz schön von uns. Ich muß schließen und euch noch einmahl Herzlich Grüßen.. Ich in der nacht geschrieben. Ich habe keine zeit. Ich werde euch speter schrieben. Gute Nacht Liebe Schwester.

Friedrich and Karolina Herr

An aside in the upper margin of page 2: noch 2 Tage haben ihn gefeht zu 87 Jahr.
Translation:
Herr ND Dec 20 - 06

Dear sister and brother-in-law, greetings to God and the dear Savior to lead our fate; we are still healthy. The dear father died on the 20th at 5 in the morning. He slept continuously for 5 days and 5 nights until he died. They both go to their land. Now I would have a request of you, if you wanted you could do something. We would like the Bletzlein [a coin worth 7 pfennig] (illegible) If you could help us it would be quite nice for us. I have to close and greet you once more with best greetings. I wrote this at night and have no more time, I will write to you later. Good night, dear sister.

Friedrich and Karolina Herr

An aside in the upper margin of page 2: Only 2 days were lacking for his 87th year.
    Michael was in a coma for five days and nights before he died 20 December 1906, two days before his 87th year. Michael and Barbara are both buried in unmarked graves in a family plot on the old Herr farm near McClusky.
Children of Michael Krein and Barbara Gehring :
  1. BARBARA KREIN, born 23 August 1841 at Neudorf, married Christoph Permann 7 November 1862. Immigrated in about 1878 and settled near Tripp in the Dakota Territory, today South Dakota. Barbara died in 1898 in South Dakota. Christoph was born 14 June 1839 and died 25 March 1918 in Tripp.
     
      Children:  JOHANN, born 24 March 1865 in Kassel;   ANDREAS, born 21 March 1866 in Kassel;   FRIEDRICH;   HEINRICH;   CATHARINA;   MARGARETHA;   JAKOB, born 8 June 1870 in Kassel;   GEORG, born 19 January 1875 in Kassel;   CHRISTINA;   GUSTAV.
     
  2. KATHARINA KREIN, born 21 September 1843 at Neudorf.
     
  3. JOHANN KREIN, born 26 September 1845 at Neudorf.
     
  4. KAROLINA KREIN, born 25 December 1847 at Neudorf and married Friedrich Herr at Kassel 2 November 1869. The family emigrated to America in 1879 and settled first near Tripp in the Dakota Territory, now South Dakota. The 1900 Federal Census recorded that Karolina gave birth to 12 children, 10 of whom were living at the time. Karolina died 19 August 1929 and Friedrich, 12 March 1931, both in McClusky, Sheridan County, North Dakota.
     
      Children:  FRIEDRICH, born 15 March 1870 at Kassel, South Russia, died 1941 San Haven, North Dakota;   JACOB, born 21 January 1873 at Kassel, died 12 October 1948 Bismark, North Dakota;   CHRISTINA, born 15 January 1875 at Kassel, married November 1893 Andreas Lehr born 4 February 1869 at Kassel, Christina died 27 February 1934 and Andreas died 18 August 1949 both at Regan, North Dakota;   JOHANN, born 25 October 1876 at Kassel, died 1900 Anamoose, North Dakota;   GEORGE, born 14 April 1880 at Friedenstal, Dakota Territory now South Dakota, died 8 December 1954;   GUSTAV, "August", born 24 March 1882 at Tripp, Dakota Territory now South Dakota, died 21 April 1948 Jamestown, North Dakota;   CHRISTIAN, born 29 January 1884 at Tripp, died 18 November 1950 Starwart, Saskatchuwan, Canada;   LYDIA, born 9 January 1885 at Tripp, died 6 January 1940 McClusky, Sheridan County, North Dakota;   HENRY, born 26 June 1887 at Tripp, died 8 May 1952 Velva, McHenry County, North Dakota;   HELENA, born 29 July 1889 at Tripp, died 1970 Lincoln, Nebraska;   EMMA, born 18 December 1892 at Tripp, South Dakota, died 1976 McClusky, North Dakota.
     
  5. CHRISTINA KREIN, born 25 May 1850 at Neudorf, died in infancy 2 January 1851 aged 7 months and 6 days.
     
  6. MARGARETHA KREIN, born 8 June 1852 at Neudorf and married Jacob Herr about 1873 in Russia. They left in 1876 bound for America. Their jouney took them by rail to Hamburg, thence by steam ship to New York and train again to Hutchinson County in the Dakota Territory. They settled in about 7 miles west of Tripp. Some time later they removed to new land southwest of Wishek, McIntosh County, North Dakota. They were the parents of seventeen children, seven of whom died in infancy. Margaretha died in September 1912 and Friedrich in the fall of 1916.
     
      Children:  JACOB, born 22 February 1874 at Kassel, disappeared in 1926;   FRIEDRICH, born 15 July 1875 at Kassel, died 8 August 1875 aged 22 days;   JOHN G., born 15 October 1877 near Tripp, the Dakota Territory, now South Dakota, died 3 July 1901;   AUGUST W., born 15 October 1880 near Tripp;   CHRISTIAN J., born 26 March 1882 near Tripp;   CHRISTINA, born 11 December 1883 near Tripp;   GOTTLIEB, born 11 October 1885 near Tripp;   MAGDALENA, born 14 February 1887 near Tripp;   KATHARINA, born 17 October 1888 near Wishek, McIntosh County, the Dakota Territory now North Dakota;   FRIEDRICH, born 6 October 1889 near Wishek;   EDWARD, born 14 April 1894 near Wishek, McIntosh County, North Dakota.
     
  7. CHRISTINA KREIN, born 26 September 1854 at Neudorf, Kerson, South Russia. She was married sometime before 1874 to Martin Hoffer who died in Scotland, the Dakota Territory now South Dakota, 5 December 1882. Christina married secondly 16 February 1883 to CHRISTIAN REMPFER. She died in Parkston, Hutchinson County, South Dakota 20 January 1920.
     
  8. MICHAEL KREIN, born 11 January 1857 at Neudorf. He accompanied his parents to America in 1885. Michael filed a declaration of intent for naturalization, along with his father, at Yankton on 22 April 1885 and was naturalized as a citizen at the District Court of McIntosh County, North Dakota on 1 June 1892. He lived with his parents for quite some time, but he did purchase land in Hutchinson County, Dakota Territory and perfected Homestead and Timber-Culture claims in McIntosh, County. In all cases he signed his legal documents with an "X". It is said that after Michael died his land went to his parents who sold it to Karolina Herr who, in turn, traded to her brother Jacob Krein for 1200 bushels of wheat. Jacob then gave it to his son Henry.
     
  9. JACOB KREIN, born 18 December 1858 at Neudorf and married at Bergdorf 10 February 1881 Margaretha Fischer, born 8 January 1859, the daughter of David Fischer. They emigrated to America in 1885 and settled in McIntosh County, the Dakota Territory, now North Dakota, 12 miles southwest of Wishek. Jacob died 1 December 1925 and Margaretha 10 March 1941.
     
      Children:  KAROLINA, born 19 April 1882 at Neudorf, married George Rudolf, died 3 May 1935;   KATHARINA, born 1 January 1884 at Neudorf, married ----- Springer;   JOHANN, born July 1885, the Dakota Territory now North Dakota;   CHRISTIAN, born February 1887;   EVA, born July 1888;   JAKOB, born February 1890 in North Dakota;   CHRISTINA, born March 1893 in North Dakota, married Jacob Vossler;   HEINRICH, born September 1895 in North Dakota;   GUSTAV, born July 1897 in North Dakota;   FERDINAND, born January 1900 in North Dakota.
     
  10. MAGDALENA KREIN, born 12 May 1861 at Neudorf and it appears that she died 2 December 1880 also at Neudorf, aged 19 years, 7 months and 7 days.
     
  11. HELENA KREIN, probably born in Neudorf in 1863. Recordable events for her seem to have fallen in years of missing records. What is known comes from a series of letters sent by Helena from Sevastopol, Crimea between 1898 and 1901. [ref] She first married Ludwig Stichler (or perhaps Stiegler) with whom she had two children. She apparently left him and later married ----- Karsis, born about 1850 in Greece. They had a daughter HELENA. Mr. Karsis owned ships on the Black Sea but traveled the oceans also. Helena accompanied him occasionally and at least once visited New York, but hadn't the time to visit relatives in the Dakotas. In a letter dated 25 January 1901 she sadly wrote: "... we were abroad, in Greece, and there my husband died. There was an uprising by the Tirgen (Turks?) and there he was wounded and died of his wounds ... We lost everything, house and farm, everything the Tirgen took and burned everything. I am now like an abandoned child." She lived with her brother-in-law and his wife.
 





C HRISTINA KREIN was the seventh child born to Michael Krein and Barbara Gehring. She first saw the light of the world on 26 September 1854 at Neudorf, Kerson, South Russia and on the same day a private emergency baptism was given by Franz Krein, perhaps she was not expected to survive. Christina first married, before 1874, Martin Hofer, born 1853, of Neudorf. They were among the early emigrants to leave for America, arriving in New York 28 October 1874 aboard the Steam Ship Schiller out of Hamburg. Their 9 month old son Jacob was with them. From New York they would have taken the train as far as the railhead at Yankton before heading overland to their new home at Scotland, Bon Homme County, the Dakota Territory. Martin filed a declaration of intent for naturalization at Yankton 21 April 1878. The 1880 Federal Census recorded Martin as a Dry Goods Merchant, age 27. It is interesting to note that Russian Thistle, otherwise known as tumbleweed, was introduced into Bon Homme County in 1876, the seeds being inadvertantly imported from the Odessa area of southern Russia.
    Martin was granted citizenship at Hutchinson County 15 November 1881. At the Land Office in Scotland, D.T. on 26 September 1882 he filed a Homestead application for 160 acres near Tripp, Hutchinson County naming Friedrich Herr, Conrad Herr, Christoph Perrman and Heinrich Schnabel as possible witnesses. Five days after giving proof on 11 November 1882 he purchased the property from the Land Office for $200. He stated he, his wife and three children had taken up residence in March 1882 and that he had "a house, stables, a well &c". Martin died on 5 December 1882 and is buried at Rosehill Cemetery, Scotland, Bon Homme County, now South Dakota.
    Christina married secondly CHRISTIAN REMPFER on 16 February 1883 in Scotland. Christian had immigrated in late 1880 and remained for a short time in Yankton before removing to Scotland in 1881 where he secured a clerical position in a grocery. He remained in that position for two years, probably until his marriage to Christina. The family removed to Hutchinson County in 1885 and took up residence in the village of Parkston in 1893. The 1910 Federal Census for Parkston, Henry G. Rempfer enumerator, recorded that Christina gave birth to ten children, six of whom were then living. She died in Parkston, from complications of diabetes, 20 January 1920.
Children of Christina Krein and Martin Hofer :
  1. JACOB HOFER, born 1874 in Russia, died before 1880.
     
  2. AMELIA HOFER, born 10 October 1876 in Scotland, Bon Homme County, the Dakota Territory now South Dakota, married ----- Kirk, died 12 April 1912.
     
      Children:  ARTHUR, lived in Williston, North Dakota, was the Great Northern Railway express agent, married Laura Haggart, a nurse, had five children.
     
  3. AUGUST HOFER, born about 1878 at Scotland, Bon Homme County, the Dakota Territory.
     
  4. CHILD HOFER ?, born about 1880 at Scotland, Bon Homme County, the Dakota Territory and living when father made Homestead entry.
( It is said that they had at least three of their six children in Russia "as we know that three of them died there of diphtheria and influenza." However, the dates would suggest one more child in Russia and two more in Scotland between 1878 and 1883. It is recorded on the 1910 U.S. Census that Christina bore 10 children, 6 of whom were then living.)
Children of Christina Krein and Christian Rempfer :










DESCENT FROM MICHEL GREIN:

X  
IX  
VIII  
VII  
VI  
V  
IV  
III  
II  
I  
Michel Grein married Maria Margaretha -----.
Johann Dielmann Grein married Anna Margaretha Schlarb.
Johann Christoph Grein married Maria Catharina Schlarb.
Johann Konrad Krein married Anna Magdalena Petri.
Franz Michael Krein married Barbara Unrath.
Michael Krein married Barbara Gehring.
Christina Krein married Christian Rempfer.
Emma Rempfer married Horace Whitehouse.
Philip Krein Whitehouse married Barbara Anne Lightner.
Paul Lightner Whitehouse married Barbara Lynn Giles.




   
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