[Ger-Poland-Volhynia] Neche, ND and Gretna, MB

[Jerry Frank]

At 02:00 PM 23/06/2007, Al Meyer wrote:
>I suppose quite a few members (like myself) have ancestors who 
>passed through Neche, North Dakota and Gretna, Manitoba.  I was 
>wondering if members would mind sharing their research experiences 
>in this area, such as local churches, cemeteries, etc.
>
>Also, would anyone recommend the book "Proudly we speak : a history 
>of Neche, Bathgate, Bruce and Hyde Park."
>PUBLISHER: Neche, [N.D.] : Neche/Bathgate History Book Committee, 
>[1976]-1983.
>
>Thanks, Al
>


I can't advise much about Neche but here are some materials I used in 
my research in that area:

"Gretna - Window on the Northwest", by F.G. Enns;  D.W. Friesen and 
Sons, Altona - 1987

"The Rural Municipality of Rhineland 1884 - 1984", by Gerhard John 
Ens (note different spelling);  Friesen Printers, Altona - 1984

Both books should be available under inter-library loan.


If you can make a personal visit:

- Go to the Municipal Office in Altona.  Ask to see their vital 
statistics books.  Last time I was there (some years ago know) they 
allowed me to browse through them.  This was the only way I found a 
death record for my g.grandfather.  I knew his children had all come 
to Canada but this was the only clue that he had come with them.  Of 
course I also gleaned some birth and marriage records for his 
descendants.  They also have land records here which can provide some 
clues about where your ancestors were living.  I probably spent 6 or 
more hours going through materials there.

- The Village Office in Gretna has some materials available including 
some unpublished monographs about St. Paul's Lutheran Church as 
created by Felix Kuehn.

- The County Office in Cavalier, ND has land records that are of 
value.  It was here that I discovered how my ancestors, living in 
Canada, purchased land in the States along the Pembina River for the 
purpose of harvesting the wood from the bush that grew there.  They 
may have other materials but I did not investigate them as my people 
did not live in the States.




Jerry Frank - Calgary, Alberta
FranklySpeaking at shaw.ca