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Archiver > BANAT > 2000-12 > 0975734483


From: dreyer <>
Subject: [BANAT-L] ND families and education
Date: Fri, 01 Dec 2000 21:21:23 -0800
References: <NEBBLBKPJDKGJNJIENEFKEMIDFAA.sherold@ix.netcom.com>


Steve;
There were roughly 600 Banat families in North Dakota so you can
calculate the number from various localities. You can make an exact
total count using the ND Banat census database posted on the FEEFHS
website.
The great bulk of Banaters coming to America were agricultural laborers.
Among these were a few barbers and blacksmiths. The idea of merchants
and businessmen did not extend beyond what the average farmer would
engage in in the local markets.
I would be prepared to make a case that education was not highly valued
among Banaters. The main goal was to put their kids out to work as soon
as they could stand on their feet. There was a good reason why Banaters
settled in the valley of the Yellowstone and in upstate Michigan---they
could put their kids to work hoeing sugar beets. The Germans from
Russian did the same thing except their kids hoed sugar beets in Colo. I
am told that prior to the First World War Banaters controlled the
jantorial services in Cincinnati(and I suspect probably in other large
American localities) not a business with the widest of horizons--but
then you have to start somewhere.
The Banat saying "Work makes life sweet" refered to backbraking, sweat
producing work not to any lofty intellectual endeavors. I would argue
that Banaters were not short of common sense but lacked political and
intellectual instincts. The shortage of political leadership was
severely felt during the Revolations of 1848 and at the peace
conferences following WW I.
Of course, towards the end of the 19th century, as Banaters moved into
Temeswar, there was more oppertunity for Banaters to enter commerical
life. Remember, up to ca 1870 Temeswar was mainly a administrative,
commerical center run largely by goverment officials. These officials
were not Donauschwabs but were Austrians and Hungarians totally separate
in background from the people of the countryside---our guys. Even
participation of Banaters in the commerical life of Temeswar did not
produce any outstanding internationally known figures. Authors like
Adam Mueller Guttenbrun or Lenau were what is know in German as
Heimatdichters and were largely unknown outside the Banat.
The failure to take a political role in their own interests is a lesson
well learned by modern day Banaters in Germany who heavly participate in
politics of the Bundesrepublic.
My comments on lack of interest in education run counter to much of what
one reads in various modern Banat publications. But I think there is an
element in these publications of wanting to make things appear better
than they were.
Regarding the orgin of ND Banaters. The common thread which runs
through their origins is that they came from poorer Banat villages,
places that were frequently flooded out by the Theiss, Bega and Temesch
Rivers or places which were located in areas of poor soils, eg along the
base of the Banater Bergland.
Dave Dreyer

Steve Herold wrote:
>
> Interesting questions. I've often wondered how many of the Banaters who came to
> the US and Canada were farmers vs. merchants and businessmen.
>
> The booklet "North Dakota Pioneers from the Banat" by John Michels lists the
> following distribution but does not provide the actual number.
> Josefsdorf 20.0%
> Setschan 8.3%
> Bakowa 7.8%
> Ernsthausen 6.3%
> Giselladorf 4.1%
> Klek 4.1%
> Dolatz 3.9%
> Blumenthal 3.6%
> Nitzkydorf 2.7%
> Bethausen 2.7%
> Stefansfeld 2.4%
> Kleinjetscha 2.2%
> Kodon 1.9%
> Molidorf 1.2%
> Other 28.7%
>
> Note that St. Hubert has to fall in the less than 1% category for settling in
> ND. I recognized a couple of the Molidorf names....one was a shoemaker, the
> other a farmer.
>
> Steve
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Steve Remsing [mailto:]
> > Sent: Friday, December 01, 2000 5:00 AM
> > To:
> > Subject: [BANAT-L] St. Hubert Heimatbuch
> >
> >
> > Could someone with the St. Hubert Heimatbuch do a lookup for me on the
> > Remsing's ? It appears that the Remsings split between two villages,
> > St. Hubert and Molidorf. It's kind of strange also, that the ones from
> > St. Hubert who came to the U.S. settled in places like Idaho, North
> > Dakota, and Washington, whereas the ones from Molidorf settled in places
> > like Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, and Chicago.
> > Does anyone know why this would be ? Possibly the ones from St. Hubert
> > were farmers, and the ones from Molidorf were more mechanized ?
> >
> > Thanks in advance.
> > Steve Remsing
>
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