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Ratzlaff, Adam (1867-1944): Difference between revisions
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(Editor's Note: In Kansas Mr. Ratzlaff lived in the Friedenstal community near Hillsboro for a time before deciding to go to Oklahoma. To friends he confided that when he landed at Fairview he had only $3.00 in cash.) | (Editor's Note: In Kansas Mr. Ratzlaff lived in the Friedenstal community near Hillsboro for a time before deciding to go to Oklahoma. To friends he confided that when he landed at Fairview he had only $3.00 in cash.) | ||
[[Image:Ratzlaff_adam_1944.jpg| | [[Image:Ratzlaff_adam_1944.jpg|300px|center]] | ||
"Later in 1893 Adam Ratzlaff was to make the run into Oklahoma from Hunnewell, Kans., and to settle at Fairview, Okla., where he prospered as a banker and land-owner. he was the father of 17 children, four of whom reside in Wichita. They are William M. Ratzlaff, 637 South Erie; Benton Ratzlaff, rural Wichita, Mrs. Lawrence Bolt, 426 Indiana, and Mrs. T. N. Pearson, of rural Wichita. All 17 of the children still survive. | "Later in 1893 Adam Ratzlaff was to make the run into Oklahoma from Hunnewell, Kans., and to settle at Fairview, Okla., where he prospered as a banker and land-owner. he was the father of 17 children, four of whom reside in Wichita. They are William M. Ratzlaff, 637 South Erie; Benton Ratzlaff, rural Wichita, Mrs. Lawrence Bolt, 426 Indiana, and Mrs. T. N. Pearson, of rural Wichita. All 17 of the children still survive. | ||
Revision as of 09:48, 29 January 2014
Christlicher Bundesbote obituary: 1944 Mar 14 p. 15
Birth date: 1867 Oct 10
text of obituary:
Adam Ratzlaff, Sohn von Benj. und Eva Ratzlaff, wurde geboren om 10. Okt., 1867 zu Antonofka, Russisch-Polen. 1874 reiste die Familie mit andern nach Jerusalem um dort das Kommen des Herrn zum 1000 jährigen Reich zu erwarten. Die russisch-türkische Krieg machte, daß sie 7 Jahre in der Türkei bleiben mußten, wo sie große Leiden und Hungersnot erlebten. Der kleine Adam wanderte eines Tages zu weit von ihrem Hause weg und wurde von Türken gestohlen. Nur mit größter Mühe fand man ihn wieder. “Onkel Adam” war wirklich ein “selbst-gemachter Mann”, unter Gott. Er hatte keine Schule in seiner Jugend. Später in Amerika besuchte er 3 Monate die Distrikt-Schule. Aber er lernte lesen aus der Bibel, die ihm bald ein bekanntes Buch wurde. Wenn er schrieb und manche Wörter nicht buchstabieren konnte, schlug er einen Bibelvers auf, wo das Wort stand. 1880 kam er mit Eltern nach Durham, Kansas und wurde 1884 von Pred. Benj. Schmidt von der Holdeman Gemeinde getauft. Am 14. April, 1892 heiratete er Sarah Schroeder aus Hillsboro. 1893 nahm er teil am sog. “Run” für freie Heimstätte auf Indianer-Land in Oklahoma, und bekam eine Farm Süd von Hunnewell, Kans. Dann kaufte er ein Viertel bei Fairview, Okla. Er kam mit Familie und Hab und Gut auf einem Farmwagen, ganz arm aber mit fleißigen Sinn. So bekam er Kredit. Der liebe Gott segnete Fleiß und Sparsamkeit. Später kaufte er bei Orienta eine Farm wo sie all die Jahre wohnten, bis sie vor 7 Jahren, seiner Gesundheit wegen, nach Fairview zogen. Es wurden ihnen 6 Söhne und 3 Töchter geschenkt. Am 26. Dez. 1908 starb seine Frau. Später heiratete er Bena Frantz, Orienta und ihnen wurden 5 Töchter und 3 Söhne geschenkt. Alle 17 Kinder Leben. Am 10. Dez., 1905 schlossen sie sich der Saron Gemeinde bei Orienta an und blieben da Glieder, und alle waren stets regelmäßige Andachtbesucher; und er lehrte fast immer in der S. S. und war 15 Jahre Superintendent. Auch an Hab und Gut ward die Familie reichlich gesegnet, sodaß des Bruders Wunsch, jedem Kind eine Farm zu lassen, sich erfüllte und auch noch manch einem armen Renter ausgeholfen wurde. Dazu hatte er viel anderes Vermögen, meistens in Fairview: 1 Hospital- und 1 Bankgebäude u.a.m. Seine Hilfätigkeit ging weit über seine Familie und Gemeinde hinaus zum County und Staat und weiter. Er durfte in vielen Komitees und Behörden dienen, war V. Präsident einer Bank und sein praktischer Rat wurde viel gegesucht, war Glied des Bethel College Direktoriums. Seinen Kindern gab er alle Schulbildung, die sie wünschten. Wenn auch nicht geschult, so sprach er doch mehrere Sprachen, daunter Russisch und Türkisch, auch jetzt noch, hatte viel gelesen und sein praktisches Wissen war weitgehend. Er war ein großen Geber für gute Zwecke, Reichgottessache, usw. Der Okla. Bibel-Akademie hat er große Summen geschenkt, war viele Jahre Präsident der Behörde, und all seine Kinder haben eine Bibel-Akademie besucht. Er war ein gesunder Mann. Doch etwa 1938 zeigte sich ein Nierenleiden, woran er schwer gelitten. Die treue Gattin, Kinder, Freunde und nachts eine Krankenwärterin haben ihn fast 4 Jahre lang bedient. Gesuchte Hilfe bei Aerzten und Sanatoren half wenig, daß oft die Frage aufstieg: “Ja, warum so?” Endlich am 4. Febr. durfte er ruhig entschlafen im Alter von 76 J. 3 M. und 24 Tagen. Ein großer Verwandtenkreis und viele Freunde trauern um ihn.
Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1944 Feb 10 p. 5
text of obituary:
. . .
— Friends here received word of the death of Adam Ratzlaff who died at his home at Fairview, Okla., on Friday, Feb. 4, at 4:00 p. m. Mr. Ratzlaff was one of Oklahoma's widely known farmers and benefactor of Mennonite church institutions. He was born Oct. 10, 1867, thus reaching the age of 76 years. Funeral services were held Wednesay afternoon at the Saron Mennonite church near Orienta. Mr. Ratzlaff was one of the Mennonite pioneers in Oklahoma, where he began farming soon after the "Strip" was opened by the government in the late 80's. He had a large part in the building of the Oklahoma Bible Academy at Meno and at one time served also on the board of directors of Bethel College. He was bedfast for several years.
Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1944 Feb 17 p. 5
text of obituary:
. . .
— Rev. J. B. Epp, Lincoln, Nebr., stopped here over the week-end to visit his sister, Mrs. B. G. Regier. Rev. Epp was on his way home from Cordell, Okla., where he was called for the funeral of his old friend, Adam Ratzlaff, at the Saron Mennonite church near Orienta, Okla. Wednesday, Feb. 9. Ministers participating in the service were Rev. T. P. Fast, Rev. August Schmidt and Rev. Epp. Loud speakers set up in the basement and outside the church so that anyone in the overflowing crowd could hear. Mr. Ratzlaff during his later life had taken a great ineterst in the Oklahoma Bible Academy of which Rev. Epp was principal for a number of years. Rev. Epp is now assisting his son, Rev. Thodore Epp at Lincoln, in his nation-wide radio work.
Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1944 Mar 2 p. 4
text of obituary:
PIONEER OKLAHOMA FARMER HAD VARIED AND EVENTFUL LIFE
The following interesting account on the life and experiences of Adam Ratzlaff, large-scale farmer at Fairview, Okla., who died there last month, appeared in the Wichita (Kans.) Beacon on February 18. The article as well as the accompanying cut are used here in the Review through the courtesy of The Beacon.
Mr. Ratzlaff, who was widely known in Mennonite circles in Oklahoma, achieved extraordinary success in his vocation as a farmer. But he was also generous in his contributions to the Christian educational interests of the church and conference of which he was a member.
The article follows:
"A saga of pioneer fortitude and hardiness which wrote into the history books of this state many of their more intersitng pages was brought to a conclusion earlier this month by the deth at Fairview, Okla., of Adam Ratzlaff, adventurer, farmer, financier, and philantropist [sic].
"Ratzlaff, a member of a devout Polish family, began his world wanderings at the age of seven when he, with his parents, joined a Mennonite group on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Their journey was halted in Turkey, however, by a near East war, and there for seven years the group of pilgrims suffered the hardships of a Turkish famine until their numbers were reduced to a score of children and three adults — the mother, father, and grandmother of Ratzlaff.
"A desperate appeal to Mennonite friends in America brought money which enabled them to leave Turkey and purchase passage to the United States, and after a hazardous voyage they arrived in New York City in 1880, virtually penniless, friendless, and without knowledge of the English language.
"The small remaining funds of the refugees were used in train fare to Topeka, where they arrived hungry and entirely without money. An anxious Mrs. Ratzlaff tied the parentless children together with a long rope so they would not be lost while Adam, at 14 assuming the responsibilities of manhood, searched the city for means of obtaining food.
"His lack of knowledge of the English language proved an almost insurmountable handicap, but eventually he encountered a friendly butcher who provided food and thu his friends, lodging for the wanderers, and directed them the next day on their way to Newton, where they were met by Mennonite friends.
(Editor's Note: In Kansas Mr. Ratzlaff lived in the Friedenstal community near Hillsboro for a time before deciding to go to Oklahoma. To friends he confided that when he landed at Fairview he had only $3.00 in cash.)
"Later in 1893 Adam Ratzlaff was to make the run into Oklahoma from Hunnewell, Kans., and to settle at Fairview, Okla., where he prospered as a banker and land-owner. he was the father of 17 children, four of whom reside in Wichita. They are William M. Ratzlaff, 637 South Erie; Benton Ratzlaff, rural Wichita, Mrs. Lawrence Bolt, 426 Indiana, and Mrs. T. N. Pearson, of rural Wichita. All 17 of the children still survive.
"Death claimed the veteran frontiersman and churchman February 4 at his Fairview home, and on February 9 funeral rites were held at the Orienta, Okla., Mennonite church which was overflowing with friends paying their final respects."
The Mennonite obituary: 1944 Mar 14 p. 14