From Brüttisellen to Lushton 7

Deuteronomy 26:5–9, often referred to as Israel’s “Little Credo” because it captures in relatively few words the essence of the Israelite story, begins: “A wandering Aramean was my ancestor.…” From what we have learned thus far of our family history, these words seem oddly appropriate for our story as well: A wandering Anabaptist was our ancestor.…

Heinrich Bühler was born and lived the first twenty or so years of his life not far from Zurich, but in 1602 he began a life of wandering: first he migrated 500 miles east to Moravia (the eastern third of today’s Czech Republic); two decades later he moved again, leaving his Hutterite home near Wessely on the Marava River (modern Veselí nad Moravou) for a new residence near another river in a land farther north.

Specifically, Heinrich and family (he had a wife and an unknown number of children) left behind the ashes of Wessely (on the ravages of the Thirty Years’ War, see here) for another Anabaptist enclave to the north, the Vistula River delta.

The Bühlers traveled roughly 400 miles north-northeast to the area of Culm (modern Chełmno), probably to the village of Deutsch Konopat. If that village name sounds familiar, it is because we have already visited there (see here).

Heinrich’s travels from Zurich, Switzerland, to Wessely, Moravia (Veseli nad Moravou, Czech Republic), to the
Culm (Chełmno) area of Poland. The city of Warsaw was southeast of Culm; more important to the Mennonites
of the Culm area was the city of Danzig (modern Gdańsk) to the north

The following map* provides a closer look at the immediate environs of Heinrich’s new home. The arrow in the upper left points to the area between Groß (Greater) Deutsch Konopat on the west and Klein (Lesser) Deutsch Konopat on the east. Culm is clearly visible on the south side of the bend in the river, which on this 1906 map is identified as the Weichsel, the German name for the river we know as the Vistula. In Polish, the river is known as the Wisła.

There does not appear to be a bridge across the river, only a road on each side going up to the river. Presumably a barge provided transport across the Vistula in Heinrich and our family’s time, and it may be that the residents in 1906 relied on a similar arrangement. Today a modern bridge enables cars and pedestrians to cross easily from one side to the other (see the photos at the end of this post).

Before we end this introductory post, let me point out one interesting feature on the map: the close-set parallel lines southeast of Deutsch Konopat, northeast of Culm, and elsewhere. What do you think the lines indicate? Stay tuned for a likely answer in the next installment of From Brüttisellen to Lushton (and I will try to post that installment much sooner than I have been lately).

Bridge over the Vistula River between Przechówko (the Wintersdorf–Konopat area) and Chełmno.
The photograph is looking straight north.

Bridge over the Vistula River between Przechówko (the Wintersdorf–Konopat area) and Chełmno.
The photograph is looking southeast.

* A larger version of the Culm-area map is available here.

Wagonload of kids

Dad and Suely recently provided an interesting photograph of Grandpa and Grandma’s kids plus two others. By now most of the kids in the picture should be relatively familiar (left to right):

1. Esther
2. new kid
3. Ruth
4. new kid
5. Darlene
6. Daniel (way in back)
7. Carl
8. Wayne
9. Alma
10. Matilda

I am told that this photo was taken at the Isaac G. and Sarah Epp Franz farm, that is, where Grandma grew up down the road to the west from the Peter P Buller farm. If I understand correctly, the wagon in which the kids are sitting was often used to collect and haul potatoes. Apparently our family ate a lot of potatoes back in the day, practically living on them when times were tight.

As for the new kids, number 2 in the photo is Elvina Lou Franz, and number 4 is Lois Jean Franz. (Is this where Lois Jean Thorne got her first and middle names?) They are the two oldest daughters of Albert A. and Elisabeth Kroeker Franz. If you recall, Grandma was the firstborn in her family (1906); she was followed by Lydia in 1910 and Albert A. in 1914. In other words, this is a cousin photo one generation back.

Elvina was born in 1936, Lois in early 1939, and Alma in 1938, so we can date this photo between mid-1940 and 1941 (probably closer to the former). To add some context, Grandpa and Grandma were in their mid-thirties, and Grandma’s youngest brother August was fifteen (the five children in Grandma’s family were spread out over nineteen years).

Buller reunion 2015

I just discovered the following email from Steve in my Gmail inbox:

Happy Easter to all! Just a short note reminding you of our Buller reunion planned for June 27, 2015. It will be held at 401 Martin in Beaver Crossing, Nebraska at the home of Charlotte & Jerry Zieg. A noon potluck is planned and Charlotte has games planned for the afternoon. I hope all of you will let your siblings and children know of these plans. If you don't see their names on the email list above, please forward this to them or contact one of the committee members [Marcia Thomas, Mary Henrichson, Steve Buller] so we can add their email address to the list. … We will be sending out one or two more emails with more information. In June, we will need a response from each of you whether you will or will not attend. We had a great time in 2014 and we hope many of you will be able to join us this year.

For the committee,
Steve Buller

If you need the committee members’ email addresses, feel free to email me at [my last name].[my three-letter first name]@gmail.com.

All three committee members attended this early Buller family reunion.

Holiday reflections

Sociologist, author, educator, and Christian activist Tony Campolo is known for many things, but perhaps nothing has defined his ministry more than his sermon “It’s Friday but Sunday’s Coming” (the entire hour-long sermon is available online here; the explanation of the key phrase begins at about the 49-minute mark).

Although Tony is neither a Buller nor even a Mennonite (not even close!), the thrust of his message is appropriate for our observance of Good Friday and Easter. Simply stated, Tony Campolo reminds us that we live in the reality of Friday, the day of death and loss, but anticipate and know that Sunday’s coming, the day when all will be made whole, when we will rejoin those who have left us, forever to celebrate the joy of each other’s company. Grandma and Grandpa and so many others are no longer with us, but someday we will all be together once again.

I am reminded of one of several poignant moments from Grandma’s funeral. The service at Metz Mortuary was finished, and everyone was getting ready for the drive to Buller cemetery. As Donna and I walked out of the sanctuary and turned down the corridor toward the south parking lot, we saw Grandpa standing at the end. We joined him and stood for a moment. Suddenly he looked up half-startled and said, “Oh, I guess I don’t need to wait for Mom.” In that instant Grandpa knew what it means to live in the reality of Friday. Thankfully, he also had the hope and the assurance of Sunday.

As we remember the death and resurrection of our Lord this weekend, let us also recall the lives and faith of those who came before us, not just Grandpa and Grandma but also Peter P and Margaretha, Peter D and Sarah, David and Helena, all the way back past the Unknown Buller to Heinrich Bühler, our earliest known ancestor, who actually suffered for his faith. It is Friday for all of us who remain today, but Sunday is coming, too.

Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? … Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Cor 15:55, 57)