The text below was provided by my grandmother, Barbara Witt Viti, as a photocopy of a document titled “The Origin of the German Russian People.” This three-page document summarizes the Porubsky genealogy and was likely typed in the mid to late 1980s. Based on the memories shared, the narrative style, and the focus on Carl Porubsky, I believe this was written by my great-grandmother, Caroline Porubsky Wolford. I have copied the text here exactly as it appears with no edits. It’s a fascinating read into the life of the Volga Germans living in the “Little Russia” neighborhood of Topeka, Kansas.

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THE ORIGIN OF THE GERMAN RUSSIAN PEOPLE

About 250 years ago, Catherine of Russia, who was of German birth, wanted to bring better farming to Russia, and made a deal with a group of German farmers who were dissatisfied with the military. She promised if they would move to Russia they would be given free land and freedom from taxes and military service. They settled along the Volga taking with them seed for the wheat they grew so successfully through good farming, their thirst, their lose of peace. It was probably one of the most unusual interludes ever known in human living. Freedom from war, debt and taxes. The Germans did not intermingle with the Russians nor learn the language. They kept their own customs and brought their children up in the ways and speech of their own country. There were a little Germany inside the Russian borders. After Catherine’s era, conditions changed for the little colony. They were being taken for the military, the same as they had been in Germany. After long deliberation and mixed emotions, Mathius Porubsky, his wife Christina and 5 children decided to come to America. There was much sadness in leaving their parents and remaining sisters, brothers and relatives they possibly never see again and most families did not. The families described the feelings as a living death.

The year 1900, the Porubsky’s boarded ship and sailed rough ocean waters for 21 days. Most people became sea sick. The weather was cold, and the water of the 21 days on ship were very bad. They landed in Baltimore, Maryland and needles to say their happiness was great to be able to set foot on American soil. Most of the people kneeled down and gave thanks with eyes and clasped hands raised to heaven.

Addundum: They left Bramin [Bremen] Germany, and boarded the S.S. Roland Ship. The Porubsky family came directly to Topeka. A family of distant relatives had come to Topeka, established their home and sent them money for passage. The cost of the passage for the family was $253.00. The Porubsky family lived in the home of these people until they could establish a home of their own. Carl was 15 years old and the oldest of the children, Matthew was a small baby. The father of the family felt a heavy responsibility on his shoulders. New country, no home, no work and a debt to repay. He soon found farm work. Carl worked along his father to help provide for the family. The younger children were sent to school. Carl received little schooling but became educated in his own right and trades he learned later in life. Father and son walked 6 miles each way to the farm work. Their wages was 50 cents a day. The father soon went to work for the Santa Fe Railroad which paid a little more money. Carl continued his farm work, bought a bicycle to ride to and from his work. It was a custom of the german people all children were subject to their parents until they were 21 years old, and each child turned his weekly earnings into the house for spending money.

A small 2 room house was built by the family near the river banks of north Topeka. Everything was going well. In 1903 another son was born to the family. The same year, Topeka was flooded and the family lost most of their possessions. They rebuilt their home and replaced their possessions. In 1908 another flood came and they went with the same procedure as the 1903 flood. After the 1908 flood a large home was built for the family about 2 blocks from their first home site. The father continued to work for the railroad until he was old enough to retire. Mother Christina wife of Mathius died at an early age of 54. Death due to cancer. She died March 22, 1916. Four years later Mathius remarried a widow named Barbara Schwert with whom he lived 10 years until his death. He was 73 and died March 23, 1929. Barbara lived to be in her 80’s. She walked to church every morning for years to and from from about 1 1/2 miles. Her death occurred suddenly when a car reered out of control striking her on her own porch steps. Mathius’s 2 wives are buried in the same plot in Mt Calvary cemetery. Most all of the relatives are buried at Mt Calvary cemetery.

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Some families formed their own settlement and was called by american people as “Little Russia.” The neighborhood still carries the name. Their houses were well kept. Everyone had a picket fence. Well painted rows of houses, mostly alike. They had what they called “summer kitchens” that was behind the main home about 25 feet from the back door. The purpose of these was to do the dirty work. The laundry, also cooking in the summer time to keep from heating up the house. The men used to for a washroom when they came from work. The young folks used it for dancing. There was always some one in a group that could play some type of musical instrument. Most all could play a harmonica. The men folks used the kitchen which sometimes consisted of 2 rooms for playing cards, chewing their tobacco and filling their pipes. The women frowned on their husbands dirtying their kitchen in the main house. They took turns at each others homes. The people prowdly kept their german language. Some of the older people learned to speak a little english and understand the language and others did not but they were happy in their state of life. As their children learned the english language and customs the parents also liked the new ways. These people were all of the catholic faith, all would have to gather at night usually kneel on a bare printed floor and say the rosary. For anyone that has not done this, this was a real penance. The elderly did not fidget as much as the young and by the time the last decade of the rosary was reached it was hard to concentrate on god. These people were very strict with their children and expected obedience from them. Many of the men found work farming[,] others carpenter work, many worked for the railroad from the time they came to america until they died. Others worked for a meat packing plant. They often thought of the remaining relatives in Russia. Many letters were written and money sent to them but few ever heard that their mail was received. The women often times took their babies with them to do a washing by hand for the wealthier people to help the husbands to pay the debt of money for their passage to this country.

Christmas was never a big day in gift giving but regarded as the day Christ was born and celebrated as such. The immediate family received small gifts- candy & fruit aplenty for the children. The children never heard of Santa Claus with the white whiskers and red suit but all knew of St. Nickless. He some times came to the house dressed in white, nearest resemblance to a spook with heavy chain around the waist. Some children eager to meet him and others feeling they hadn’t been very good throughout the year crawled under the beds. New years day was a big day for celebrating. The families went to all of their relatives and visited & did what we called “winching”. In reality it was a happy new year wish that in german translated in english is: I wish you a happy new year, long life, good health, freedom and peace in your life, after your death life everlasting. May the love of the christ child remain in your heart forever, these are my wishes for you. Children learned to say this young in age. Food was prepared in advance that was of german dishes, such as cabbage strudles made by browning meat, adding cabbage, onions & seasoning, wrapping in bread dough, dropped in deep fat or baked. Home made pickles, whole pickled watermelons. The basement had potatoes, apples, cheese. Everyone had a cow. Lunch meats, ham, pretzels, beer, liquor served to adults. The children received candy, oranges, and money. Many times there would be 100 people at our home on that day. Many people started the new year celebration the minute the clock struck 12:00 and lasted all night and day. January 2nd there would were many that could vaguly remember where they had been or what they had eaten.

Weddings called for a 3 day celebration if the parents could afford it. The 2nd or 3rd day was a close family celebration to eat the remaining food and drink beer. This was a mock wedding. The man usually portrayed the bride with lace curtains as a veil, flowers from spirea bushes as bridal wreath, bunch of onions as bouquet. The groom was a woman dressed in mans clothing usually dressed in overalls resembling a hillbillie and small in size and stood on a box next to his bride. This was a great fun day. Some weddings today still do this.

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One good old custom stays- that of pinning money to the dress of the bride. by the men who dance with her on her wedding day. The dance was called “Russian Stomp” and began after the nuptial mass and wedding breakfast ending at 12:00 midnight. It is customary for brothers and sisters husbands to pin at least a $20.00 bill which considering the larger families is a large sum. It has been known for the father of the bride to pin $500.00 to his daughter’s dress and the grooms father a check for equal amount. Formerly the groom’s parents furnished the dinner for all of the relatives and friends at noon following the wedding but now American custom is followed and the bride’s parents supply the food. The present custom is for the bride and groom to furnish the refreshments and drinks for the evening of the wedding day. The kitty for the musicians is a dulcimar into which the dancers drop coins or bills. There is a guarantee in case the kitty is not fat enough. The couples take in about 3 times what they spend. Many couples have netted as much as $2700.00 to start a life of their own.

The people in this little section of town are industrious, proud of their heritage and still peace loving. Their thrift and skill both on the farm and in other occupations and the determination to follow an idea that brought them first to Russia and then to america makes them valuable citizens. They studied and became american citizens and to be able to vote was a great privilege.

The Porubsky children according to age were: Carl, John, Anna, Joseph, Elizabeth, Matthew and George.

Carl Porubsky, born Feb 26, 1865, died Feb 14, 1962 age 77, member of St. Joseph’s church, buried Mt. Calvary cemetery, he was born in Kemanka Russia

John Porubsky, born April 5, 1887 in Kamenka Russia, died August 23 1956, member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Topeka, buried Mt. Calvary

Anna Porubsky Wasinger, lived in Chicago, Ill, died in mid 40’s

Joseph Porubsky, born December 7, 1892, died November 6, 1940, member St Josephs catholic church, buried Mt Calvery cemetery

Elizabeth Porubsky Devlin, born Jan 31, 1894 in Kamenka, Russia, died Jan 9, 1964, member of St Joseph catholic Church, buried Mt Calvary cemetery

Matthew Porubsky, born March 16, 1900, died August 17, 1948, member St Josephs catholic Church, buried Mt Calvary cemetery

George Porubsky, born March 2, 1903, died August 16, 1962 member St Joseph’s Catholic Church, buried Mt Calvary cemetery