Germantown Baptist Church -



Germantown Baptist Church, Wells County, North Dakota
photograph from State Historical Society of North Dakota (00739-v2-p37e)

Our Ehrmann (Erman) and Boepple (Pepple) families were members of the First German Baptist Church of Carrington, North Dakota in 1884.  It was founded by Rev. J. F. Grimmell, Christian Albus Sr. deacon and wife, Christian Albus Jr. Secretary and wife, Samuel Piedt and wife and dau, William Wendtland and wife, Mrs. Franz Albus, Mrs. John Pepple (Böpple), Mrs. Peter Seibold and Christina Edinger (later md. Shaible) baptized same day, and August Leibig (the former pastor in Cataloi).  In 1892, its members moved to Germantown Township in Wells County and built a new church named the Germantown Baptist Church.  The church building is gone today, however, there is a marker with the following inscription:

"This church was formally organized November 2, 1884 by German settlers who came from Catalui, Romania.  Later more German settlers from Romania and South Russia added to its membership.  This church served as a religious and social center in the community for many years.  Its influence cannot be measured by mortal words.  It came to be know as the church by the highway.  The surrounding community is yet farmed and owned by descendants of these hardy industrious people.  May this marker serve as a reminder of their sacrifice and dedication.  

'The place whereon you stand is holy ground.' Acts 7:33"

Latest Y-DNA test results for the Boettcher Y-DNA Project.

Attached are the latest results of our Boettcher Y-DNA Project.  So far, we have not found any new connections to the Boettcher family of Paris, Bessarabia.  However, we recently helped connect 2 branches of the Beresan District Bettger family. 

Our sample size is still small, and we are continuing to solicit participants for this project.  If you are male with surname Boettcher or a variant spelling, please contact us to find out more!   

Click to view larger and then download by right-clicking.

Böttcher Families of Bessarabia (Kulm, Leipzig, Tarutino and Beresina)

My friend Armin Zimmermann has just recently published an extensive descendancy of the Bessarabian Böttcher families from the villages of Kulm, Leipzig, Tarutino and Beresina. 

You can visit this fantastic resource here:
http://www.armin-zimmermann.eu/Bessarabien/Boettcher/Boettcher_Stammbaum_englisch.html

Please honor his copyright. 

1940 U.S. Federal Census - Sam & Esther Bettcher in Long Prairie, Minnesota

The recently released U.S. Federal Census for 1940 shows Samuel and Esther Bettcher living in Long Prairie, Todd County, Minnesota.   Sam was a partner in the Bettcher-Schrupp Machine Shop.  Their children Kenneth and LaVaughn are listed, as well as Esther's mother, Ida Gerlach Beutler. 

Click image to enlarge
1940 US Census, Long Prairie, Minnesota - Samuel & Esther Bettcher Family

Photograph of Anna Ehrmann and Mary Alexander

Anna Ehrmann (left) and Mary Alexander

Friedrich Boepple's first wife, Dorothea Stiefel, death 1840, Teplitz

Friedrich Boepple was first married to Dorothea Stiefel. She died on 21 Mar 1840 at Teplitz, Bessarabia.  The cause of breath was Engbrustigkeit, or "tightness of chest" often equated to Asthma.  She was 31 years old. 




Arzis Parish Register, 1840 Deaths (Teplitz)



Christian Ehrmann and Beata Boschitzky, children by first marriages

Christian Ehrmann and his first wife, Dorothea Schnepf, had a daughter Wilhelmine born on 5 Jul 1834 at Brienne, Bessarabia.  She was also baptized on 5 Jul, the godparents being Johann Hannemann, Wilhelmine Hannemann and Marianna Tietz.

Christian's future second wife, Beata Boschitzky, is also on this same page.  She and her first husband, Martin Hinz had a daughter Elisabeth born on 14 Jun 1834 at Brienne, Bessarabia.  She was baptized on 22 Jun, the godparents being Martin Richter, Maria Richter and Anna Rosina Zielmann. 

Arzis Parish Register, 1834 Births / Baptisms for Brienne

Samuel Ehrman & Catharina Seibold - marriage 1868, Arzis

Samuel Ehrmann's first marriage was to Catharina Seibold, on 8 Feb 1868, at Arzis, Bessarabia.   Samuel married a second time to Anna Maria Boepple, about 1872, in Cataloi, Dobruja, Romania. 

Arzis Parish Register, 1868 Marriages

Margaretha (Schwenk) Sperr, died 1833, Odessa City, Bessarabia

Margaretha Sperr (nee Schwenk) died at Odessa City, Russian Empire on 6 Mar 1833 at age 44 years, 7 months, 22 days.  She died of "Nervenfieber" (nervous fever, which is typhoid). 
The death record notes that her husband, Philipp Sperr, was a Wuerttemberger emigrant.  They may have been in Odessa to seek medical care.  A note on the right side states that a death certificate was issued on 13 Mar 1833.  The other entries on the same page note "allhier" for people who lived in Odessa; this is not the case for the Sperrs, so they must have lived elsewhere (supposedly Friedensthal, Bessarabia).

She was born to Johannes Schwenk and Johanna Maria Ade in Rielingshausen, Wuerttemberg and baptized on 14 Jul 1788. 

She had married Philipp Sperr on 22 Nov 1815 at Rielingshausen.  After her death, Philipp Sperr, remained in Friedensthal, Bessarabia and remarried.   

Odessa Parish Register, 1833 Deaths
(click for larger image)



Johann Christian Ehrmann & Beata Boschitzky - marriage 1838 Alt Arzis

Johann Christian Ehrmann, son of Johann Melchior Ehrmann & Margaretha Elisabeth Haug, married Beata Boschitzky, widow of Martin Hinz of Alt Elft, on 6 Oct 1838 at Alt Arzis by Pastor Hastig.  Beata's first husband, Martin Hinz, had died on 3 Sep 1836 at Brienne (he was 40 years old and born in Poland). 

Arzis Parish Register, Marriages 1838

Johann Christian Ehrmann and Beata Boschitzky Hinz had a child before they married.  His name was Johann and he was born on 14 Apr 1838 at Brienne.  He was baptized on 24 Apr 1838 at Arzis, the godparents being Daniel Jans, Christoph Klein and Rosina Littau.  

It is interesting to note that we believe Beata Boschitzky was the sister to Louisa Boschitzky, who married Christoph Klein of Paris.  The fact that Christoph was a godparent to this illegitimate son, supports this theory. 

Arzis Parish Register, Births / Baptisms 1838

Sam Bettcher in Long Prairie, Minnesota

My grandfather, Samuel Andrew Bettcher and his family lived in Long Prairie, Minnesota before moving to the Twin Cities. 

He ran a blacksmith and machine shop in Long Prairie with Schrupp.  He later bought out Schrupp.  Here's some of their advertisements:

Beata Boschitzky, first husband Martin Hinz

Before marrying Johann Christian Ehrmann, Beata Boschitzky (or Boschatzke) was married to Martin Hinz.  They had a daughter born 14 Jun 1834 at Brienne, Bessarabia. She was baptized 22 Jun 1834 at Arzis, the godparents being Martin Richter, Maria Richter and Anna Rosina Kielmann. 

Arzis Parish Records, 1834 Births / Baptisms

Martin Hinz died at age 40, on 3 Sep 1836 at Brienne, Bessarabia.

Arzis Parish Records, 1836 Deaths

Philipp Sperr, second marriage 1834 to Christiana Barbara Schorr

After the death of his first wife, Margaretha Schwenk, Philipp Sperr married a second time, to Christiana Barbara Schorr, daughter of Balthasar Schorr.  They were married on 26 May 1834 at Friedensthal, Bessarabia by Pastor Williams.  The record notes that they were both born in Wuerttemberg and that Philipp's father was Johann Michael Sperr.

Arzis Parish Church Registers, 1834 Friedensthal Marriages



Gottfried Boettcher birth, 1834, Paris

Gottfried Boettcher was the son of Michael Boettcher and Anna Katharina Schramm. He was born on 28 Aug 1834 and was baptized 5 Sep 1834 at Paris, Bessarabia.  The page with godparents appears to be missing.

Alt Elft Parish Register, 1834 Paris Births/Baptisms

Anna Luise Boettcher, birth and death 1833

Anna Luise Boettcher, daughter of Michael Boettcher and Anna Katharina Schramm, was born on 12 Jan 1833, baptized on 13 Jan 1833.  The godparents at her baptism were Jacob Mueller and Katharina Kolkoske.  Anna Luise died at 12 days old on 24 Jan 1833.

Alt Elft Parish Register, 1833 Paris Births/Baptisms

Alt Elft Parish Register, 1833 Paris Deaths

Eva Boettcher marriage to Johann Ott, 1845 Paris

Eva Boettcher was the daughter of Michael Boettcher and Anna Katharina Schramm.  She was born on 18 Mar 1822 at Paris and was married to Johann Ott on 5 Jul 1845 at Paris, Bessarabia.  Here you see her name spelled "Böttger"; we see our Boettcher name spelled many different way and are not sure how our ancestors spelled it in Paris.  The various pastors that recorded the event also spelled names the way they were used to, which may not have been how the family spelled it.

Alt Elft Parish Register, 1845 Paris Marriages

Bettcher Ancestral Villages in Bessarabia

German colonies were first founded in Bessarabia in 1814.  Our ancestors settled in the following villages and years:

Year               Village             Family
1814               Kulm                  Wandry (Fandrich), Hoffmann
1816               Paris                  Boettcher, Schramm
1817               Teplitz               Boepple, Lutz, Benz,
1817               Brienne              Wandry (Fandrich)
bef 1834          Brienne             Ehrmann
1832               Friedenstal         Sperr
April 1843       Paris                 Allmer

This map of the German colonies in Bessarabia was created by Armin Zimmermann. I have highlighted our family villages in yellow. His original can be found here:
http://www.armin-zimmermann.eu/Bessarabien/Bilder/Karten/Bessarabien.html



Here is a detailed map of the same area:

Newly Extracted Dobruja / Dobrudscha Records

Below are some records recently extracted by Gary Bettcher and Andrew Barrett-Bettcher from the Galatz German Lutheran Church Books, from 1857-1871.  The Galatz pastors recorded some births and marriages that had occured in Dobruja, specifically Atmagea, Cataloi, Ciucurova and Tulcea.  We have never seen these records before, and make them available to those folks researching Dobrudschadeutschen. 

LDS Microfilm 1270535; Evangelical Lutheran Church Books 1856-1921, Partial Extractions - Births / Baptisms from Dobruja. 

Atmagea
Birth	Baptism	Infant	Parents	Godparents	Notes
2 Jun 1862	23 Jun 1862	Wilhelmina Rebtatzky (Radetzky?)	Peter Rebtatzky, colonist; Helena geb. Taeschner	Peter Kandt, Frau Maria Elisabetha Kandt, Wilhelmina Wagner
25 Jul 1862	31 Jul 1862	Jakob Rust	Ludwig Rust, colonist; Elisabetha geb. Kaiser	Michael Wagner, Philipp Hauk, Frau Katharina Jung
12 Oct 1862	16 Oct 1862	Helena Hinz	Michael Hinz, colonist; Susanna geb. Kuehn	Karl Schielke, Helena Hinz, Rosina Schoenen
29 Jul 1862	2 Aug 1862	Christian Hinz	Wilhelm Hinz, colonist; Juliana geb. Pitt	Christian Krauss, August Kandt, Frau Luisa Hinz
27 Oct 1862	1 Nov 1862	Jakob Hauk	Philipp Hauk, colonist; Karolina geb. Rust	Michael Wagner, Jakob Rust, Frau Luisa Rust
4 Nov 1862	10 Nov 1862	Justina Feigner	Andreas Feigner, colonist; Katharina geb. Gebhardt	Karl Weber, Frau Susanna Krauss, Maria Elisabeth Kandt
25 Nov 1862	30 Nov 1862	Christian Adam	Johann Adam, colonist; Elisabetha geb. Mehrer	Gottlob Hinz, Christian Fandrich, Frau Helena Hinz
14 Dec 1862	19 Dec 1862	August Kandt	Gottlieb Kandt, colonist; Friederika geb. Fandrich	August Kandt, Daniel Martin, Frau Katharina Koehls
1 Jan 1863	4 Jan 1863	Daniel Schielke	Christoph Schielke, colonist; Christina geb. Fechner	Friedrich Berndt (?), Christian Fandrich (ledig), Frau Rosina Schoenen
5 Jan 1863	6 Jan 1863	Karolina Krueger	Johann Krueger, colonist; Luisa geb. Fehlinger	Gottlieb Fandrich, Andreas Brunesky, Frau Elisabetha Brunesky
7 Apr 1863	7 Apr 1863	Karl Rohde	Samuel Rohde, colonist; Maria geb. Krueger	Johann Krueger, Karl Schielke, Frau Susanna Krauss	baptized by Lehrer Schielke
15 Jan 1863	18 Jun 1863	Katharina Schielke	Karl Schielke, colonist; Karolina geb. Kuehn	Christian Fandrich, Frau Susanna Hinz, Frau Karolina Koehls
12 Jul 1863	13 Jul 1863	Christina Martin	Daniel Martin, colonist; Magdalena geb. Pohl	Jakob Martin, Wilhelmine Martin (single), Christina Kuehn (single)	baptized by Lehrer Schielke
2 Feb 1863	5 Jan 1863	Jakob Wendland	Wilhelm Wendland, colonist; Maria geb. Schilke	Jakob Fachner, Wilhelm Martin, Luisa Rust
9 Sep 1863	13 Sep 1863	Christoph Hinz	Georg Hinz, colonist; Helena geb. Tetzlaff	Christoph Schielke, Christian Fandrey (single), Frau Eva Kaisner	baptized by Lehrer Schielke
12 Mar 1863	15 Mar 1863	Karl Brunesky	Andreas Brunesky, colonist; Christina Brunesky	Karl Schielke, Peter Kandt, Katharina Kandt
29 Oct 1863	1 Dec 1863	Michael Lock	Adam Lock, colonist; Rosina geb. Priess	Jakob Rust, Joseph Kaisner (single), Frau Eva Kaisner	baptized by Lehrer Schielke
29 Mar 1863	29 Mar 1863	Michael Kaisner	Michael Kaisner, colonist; Eva geb. Link (?)	Michael Wagner, Elisabetha Wagner, Katharina Koehls
13 Nov 1863	15 Nov 1863	Christian Kohls	Martin Kohls, colonist; Carolina geb. Schielke	Karl Schielke, Joseph Kaisner (single), Wilhelmina Kandt	baptized by Lehrer Schielke
29 Nov 1863	6 Dec 1863	Christian Ruff	Jakob Ruff, colonist; Christina geb. Fandrey	Christian Fandrey (single), Christoph Rust, Wilhelmine Kandt	baptized by Lehrer Schielke
9 Dec 1863	10 Dec 1863	Christian Krausse	Christian Krausse, colonist; Susanna geb. Pitt	Karl Schielke, August Kandt, Frau Karolina Hinz	baptized by Lehrer Schielke
9 Jan 1864	10 Jan 1864	Anna Justina Hinz	Wilhelm Hinz, colonist; Juliana geb. Pitt	Gottlieb Hinz, Susanna Hinz, Karolina Hinz	baptized by Lehrer Schielke
Cataloi
Birth	Baptism	Infant	Father; Mother	Godparents	Notes
29 Jun 1857	1 Jul 1857	Magdalena Nagel	Georg Nagel, colonist Cataloi, Bulgaria; Christina geb Lutz	Jakob Nagel, Carolina Peplo (?), Magdalena Tietz	baptized by Thomas Lutz
15 Jul 1863	19 Jul 1863	Thomas Lutz	Thomas Lutz, colonist; Anna Maria geb. Seibold	Friedrich Seibold, Friedrich Poeple, Rosina Hutt (?)	baptized by Stephan Binder, Lehrer
2 Oct 1863	5 Oct 1863	Wilhelmina Nagel	Georg Nagel, colonist; Wilhelmine geb. Arndt	Christian Adam, Wilhelmine Arndt, Luisa Arndt	baptized by Stephan Binder, Lehrer
25 Oct 1863	28 Oct 1863	Johannes Pitt	Samuel Pitt, colonist; Karolina geb. Poeple	Johannes Ptt, Johannes Poeple, Fredericke Pitt	baptized by Stephan Binder, Lehrer
22 May 1863	24 May 1863	Rosina Meier	Christian Meier, colonist; Christina geb. Schwartz	Thomas Lutz, Rosina Adam, Karolina Reichenberg	baptized by Stephan Binder, Lehrer
14 Oct 1862	18 Oct 1862	Gottlieb Lutz	Jakob Lutz, colonist; Anna Maria geb. Krauss	Gottlieb Krauss, Johann Pople, Friedericka Pitt	baptized by Thomas Lutz
21 Nov 1862	24 Nov 1862	Thomas Seibold	Johann Georg Seibold, colonist; Henriette geb. Wehr	Thomas Lutz, Johann Kaisner, Helena Seibold	baptized by Stephan Binder, Lehrer
15 Feb 1863	16 Feb 1863	Johann Georg Arndt	Friedrich Arndt, colonist; Wilhelmine geb. Zuckert	Johann Georg Nagel, Stephan Binder, Maria Kaisner	baptized by Stephan Binder, Lehrer
21 Mar 1863	24 Mar 1863	Wilhelmina Adam	Christian Adam, colonist; Rosina geb. Pitt	Gottlieb Krauss, Karolina Pitt, Fredericka Pitt	baptized by Stephan Binder, Lehrer
17 Jun 1862	24 Jun 1862	Johann Seibold	Jakob Seibold, colonist; Helena geb. Adam	Johann Adam, Georg Seibold, Karolina Seibold	Born Trigkuli, Moldau; baptized by Christian Ehrmann, Kolonist
26 Jun 1862	30 Jun 1862	Christina Nagel	Jakob Nagel, colonist; ? geb. Mük	Friedrich Radtke (Katholic), T. Schubert, Christian Waderhut (?)	Born Pilenia, Moldau; baptized by Ludwig Kotke, Kolonist
2 Apr 1863	4 Apr 1863	Christian Nitschke	Heinrich Nitschke, colonist; Elisabetha geb. Vetter	Karl Arndt, Christoph Ponto, Elisabetha Arndt	Born Grundauers Tag (?); baptized by Ed. Neumeister, Pfarrer
Ciucurova
Birth	Baptism	Infant	Father; Mother	Godparents	Notes
9 May 1862	11 May 1862	Johann Roth	Johann Roth, Colonist Ciucurova; Christina Sperr	Johann Walter, Gustav Holberg, Christina Alperich	baptized by Lehrer Muhlbach
25 Jun 1862	29 Jun 1862	Adolf Blumhagen	Joachim Blumhagen; Christina Maier	Johann Martin, Ferdinand Baier, Betha Baier,	baptized by Lehrer Muhlbach
30 Nov 1862	7 Dec 1862	Ferdinand Martin	Johann Martin; Julia Schert	Ferdinand Blumhagen, Johann Maier, Wilhelmine Martin	baptized by Lehrer Muhlbach
22 Dec 1862	25 Dec 1862	Maria Bernet	Erdmann Bernet; Louisa Büttner	Karolina Blumhagen, Wilhelmina Büttner, Friedrich Frank	baptized by Lehrer Muhlbach
8 Mar 1863	9 Mar 1863	Johann Suckert	Gottlieb Suchert; Eva Zihl	Johann Martin, Johann Maier, Augustina Baier	baptized by Lehrer Muhlbach
23 Apr 1863	26 Apr 1863	Ferdinand August Schussler	August Schussler, colonist; Wilhelmine geb. Sperr	Ferdinand Baier, Ferdinand Blumhagen, Wilhelmine Roth	baptized by Lehrer Muhlbach
10 Apr 1862	15 Apr 1862	Rosa Frank	Friedrich Frank; Wilhelmina Kranich	Louisa Brandenburger, Henrietta Fächner, Jakob Maier	baptized by Lehrer Muhlbach
29 Apr 1863	30 Apr 1863	Wilhelm Johannes Zeihl	Christoph Zeihl, colonist; Wilhelmine geb. Ries	Wilhelm Blumhagen, Johannes Maier, Julianna Martin	baptized by Lehrer Muhlbach
1 Oct 1863	4 Oct 1863	Wilhelm Ponto	Gottlieb Ponto, colonist; Maria geb. Blumhagen	Wilhelm Blumhagen, Christian Ponto, Anna Blumhagen	baptized by Lehrer Muhlbach
9 Nov 1863	15 Nov 1863	Martin Dermann	Georg Dermann, colonist; Anna geb. Holz	Friedrich Frank, Carolina Blumhagen, Wilhelmina Frank	baptized by Lehrer Muhlbach
11 Mar 1871	21 Apr 1871	Maria Magdalena Bayer	Rudolf Baier, colonist in Ciucurova, Turkey; Wilhelmine Roth	Wilhelmina Kunz, Friedrich Roth, Anna Dermann
Tulcea
Birth	Baptism	Infant	Father; Mother	Godparents	Notes
27 Apr 1858	27 May 1858	Johanna Louisa Neubauer	Christian Neubauer, shoemaker at Tulcea; Karolina Grüningen	Adam Kain, Tuldscha, Frau Maria Knodel, Johann Gottlieb Knodel
25 Jun 1856	25 Jun 1856	Johann Conrda Mück	Christian Mück, colonist Tulcea; Eva Grün	Johann Siebold, Johann Radetsky, Margaretha Grün	baptized by Thomas Lutz, Kolonist in Anschelar in Bessarabia, now in Bulgaria
21 Oct 1862	6 Apr 1863	Ludwig Gottlieb Neumann	Gustav Neumann, missionary at Tulcea; Anna geb. Feischner	Ludwig Sch… (?),  Gottlob Feischner widower, Ed. Neumeister	Born in Tulcea; baptized by Ed. Neumeister, Pfarrer
3 Jan 1857	11 Jan 1857	Katherina Radetsky	Johann Radetsky, colonist Bulgaria; Katherina geb Grün	Jakob Lutz, Wilhelmine Radetsky, Margareth Grün	baptized by Thomas Lutz, Kolonist in Anschelar in Bessarabia, now in Bulgaria

LDS Microfilm 1270534; Evangelical Lutheran Church Books 1856-1921, Partial Extractions - Marriages from Dobruja. 

Date	Place	Groom	Groom's Father	Bride	Bride's Father	Witnesses	Notes
2 Apr 1863	Ciucurova, Bulgaria	Ferdinand Blumhagen	Joachim Blumhagen	Anna Maria Maier	Johannes Maier, colonist Ciucurova	Johann Roth, Johann Martin, Erdmann Brauer	Pastor Neumeister at Ciucurova
10 Feb 1862	Jakobsonsthal	Georg Hinz, colonist Atmagea, Bulgaria		Louisa Tetzlaff		Wilhelm Hinz, Atmagea; Jakob Schlüski, Jakobsonsthal