[Ger-Poland-Volhynia] Mass Migration, Schadura to Brazil, 1886

[Robert Radke]

Thank you for this, Ron.  This may provide a clue as to where I should 
pick up the trail of an Albrecht family that I know migrated from 
Volhynia to Brazil.  If my hunch is right, Ottilie would have had an 
uncle [Robert Prill] in the Edmonton area.

---Bob Radke

Ron Neuman wrote:
> Several of these families who migrated to Brazil from Volhynia from 
> the mid 1880's to 1891 eventually ended up making another major 
> migration from Brazil to western Canada (specifically Alberta).  I 
> have found several families who made this second migration; however, I 
> can only remember one family name.  I'll try to find the others in one 
> of the local history books.
>
> The first source that mentions the migration from Volhynia to Brazil 
> is found in the writings of Bishop Clemens Hoyler of the Moravian 
> Church.  The following paragraph is found in his article entitled "A 
> Brief Introduction to the History of the Moravian Church in Western 
> Canada."  This article was published in the Transactions of the 
> Moravian Historical Society (Volume XIV, Parts V and VI) in 1951.
>
> "When it became evident that the Moravians could not establish 
> independent churches in Russia, their leaders began to cast around in 
> other lands where there were no government or ecclesiastical 
> restrictions.  Those in Schadura were attracted to South America.  
> Under their minister, Brother Lange, they settled in Brazil and 
> founded a colony which they called 'Bruederthal' in the state of Santa 
> Catharina.  The climate, though considerably warmer than that of 
> Volhynia, was fairly pleasant, but coffee culture on the mountains was 
> a new and somewhat doubtful venture for the Volhynians.  After a few 
> years their settlement broke up, their minister entered the service of 
> the Lutheran Church, and several substantial families joined their 
> brethren in Alberta."
>
> A second paragraph later in the document states "By the time 
> Bruderheim and Bruederfeld [Note:  These settlements were in western 
> Canada near Edmonton] were organized, their numbers reached a total of 
> 228 souls.  Some of the later arrivals came directly from Poland, and 
> a few even from Brazil, whither they had first emigrated from Volhynia 
> under the leadership of the Rev. Wm. Lange in 1885.  Their colony, 
> located near Joinville, in the Province of Santa Catharina, was called 
> Bruederthal.  It was not a success."
>
> My second source is from a local history book (South Edmonton Saga) 
> for the farm area on the south boundary of the City of Edmonton, and 
> some of the area is currently part of the housing subdivisions of 
> south Edmonton.  One family who came from Brazil is listed here - the 
> Wolfram family.  The eldest son of Jacob and Eva (Schlender) Wolfram 
> was Ludwig Wolfram.  Ludwig immigrated to Brazil with his parents at 
> the age of 19 (he was born in 1872).  He married Ottilie Albrecht in 
> Brazil, and their oldest son, Alfred, was born on January 7, 1902 at 
> Joinville, Santa Catharina Province, Brazil.  In 1903 Ludwig, Ottilie 
> and their son, Alfred, were forced to leave Brazil due to ill health.  
> They immigrated to Canada to join Ludwig's parents who had immigrated 
> to Canada in 1900.
>
> Since Ludwig Wolfram married Ottilie Albrecht in Brazil, it would 
> appear as if an Albrecht family was also part of the emigration to 
> Brazil from Volhynia.
>
> Ludwig's parents, Jacob and Eva Wolfram, also followed the same 
> migration path.  The following is a brief excerpt from their family 
> story in South Edmonton Saga.  "The Jacob Wolfram family left Russia 
> in 1891.  The long journey was via Germany to Brazil.  After arrival 
> in Brazil, the family spent many months in an immigration camp in Rio 
> de Janeiro before being allowed to settle in Joinville, Brazil.  In 
> 1900 the family packed their belongings and immigrated to the North 
> West Territories where they had friends and relatives."
>
> For those who are not aware of western Canadian history, the provinces 
> of Alberta and Saskatchewan were formed in 1905 from land that was 
> formerly part of the North West Territories of Canada.
>
> As I mentioned previously, I do recall that there were at least two 
> other families who came to Alberta from Brazil in the early 1900's.  
> If anyone would like to have me find those families, please contact me 
> and I will try.