The Mennonites in Kansas

The Mennonites in Kansas. . , Beginning in 1874, hundreds of peace-loving Mennonite immigrants settled in central Kansas. They had left their former homes in Russia because a hundred-year-old immunity from established religious orthodoxy and military service was being threatened., The Alexanderwohl community, so named because of a solicitous visit by Czar Alexander I with Prussian Mennonites in 1821, had lived happily in southern Russia for more than 50 years before coming to America. Originating in the Netherlands in the 16th century, the community moved to Prussia in the 17th century and later to Russia, always seeking freedom from intolerance and persecution. Their decision to come to America and Kansas, where they chose lands in Marion, Harvey, McPherson and other nearby counties, was due largely to the efforts of the Santa Fe railroad's foreign immigration department. With them they brought the hard winter wheat which has since helped make Kansas the breadbasket of the world., The Alexanderwohl church is typical of many Mennonite congregations in this part of Kansas. Today these religious folk prosper in a modern world while retaining their original philosophy of freedom and manner of worship. , , , , , , , , , Immigrant Family Heads - 1874, Springfield , Heinrich Dahl . Peter Eitzen . Heinrich Franzen . Rev Heinrich Goertz . Jacob Pankrantz . Peter Pankrantz . David Unruh . Rev Cornelius Wedel . Rev Peter A. Wiebe, Hochfeld , Cornelius Richert . Jacob Schmidt . Peter Schmidt Sr . Peter H Schmidt . Peter Unruh . Cornelius Voth . David Voth, Blumenort , Rev Heinrich Banman . Johann Banman . Jacob Brandt . Heinrich Buller . Jacob Krause . Abraham Reimer . Andreas Schmidt . Mrs Heinrich Voth, Blumenfeld , Rev Peter Balzer . Franz Banman . Benjamin Boese . Heinrich Dirksen . Cornelius Franz . David Franz . Jacob Franz . Mrs Aaron Reimer . Rev Heinrich Richert . David Schmidt . Heinrich Schmidt . Jacob Schmidt Sr . Jacob E Schmidt . Johann Schmidt . Heinrich Schroeder . Johann Schroeder . Peter Unruh . Benjamin Wedel . Cornelius Wedel . Mrs-Rev Peter Wedel, Gnadenfeld , David Balzer . Mrs David Buller . Mrs David Goertz . Franz Goertz . Heinrich Goertz . Johann Klassen . Heinrich A Schmidt . Jacob Schmidt . Peter Schroeder . Jacob Schultz . Heinrich Somerfeld . Johann Thiessen . David Voth . Rev Peter Voth . Peter Wedel, Emmethal , Rev Jacob Buller . Johann Buller . Peter Buller . Peter Franz . Heinrich Ratzlaff . Peter Richert Sr . Peter Richert Jr . Jacob Schmidt . Peter H Schmidt, Gnadenthal , Abraham Boese . Johann Flaming . Heinrich Goertzen . Johann Janzen . Cornelius Koehn . Johann Koehn . Heinrich Koehn . David Lehrman . Heinrich Pankratz . David Schmidt . Heinrich Unruh . Johann Unruh . Johann Voth . Johann C Voth . Peter Warkentin, Gruenfeld , Peter Balzer . Benjamin Frey . Jacob Frey . Heinrich Goertz Sr . Heinrich Goertz Jr . Peter Hiebert Sr . Peter P Hiebert . Abraham Konrath . Andreas Schmidt . David Schmidt . Heinrich Schmidt . Jacob Schmidt . Jacob Schmidt . Jacob Thiessen . Heinrich Unruh . Jacob Unruh . Jacob Voth . This historical marker was erected by Kansas Historical Society and State Highway Commission. It is Near Goessel in Marion County Kansas