Thirty years ago Esther Heinze Miller started research on her Volga German ancestors.Fiveyears later, in 1969 she published the "FAMILY HISTORY OF J. F. HEINZE AND J. WEBER.'' ,the history of her father's line. When I first started looking for information on Dreispitz, I noticedthat several other family history authors quoted sections from her book, so I ordered it frominter-library loan. I was amazed at the amount of data that Esther had packed into this 137 pagevolume. She includes not only her direct line, but the siblings and their descendants as well. Because there was a considerable amount of inter marriage within this group--as there waswithin many Volga German extended families--both in Russia and the United States, this bookprovides a storehouse of information on the two villages from which they descended: Dreispitzon the Saratov and Strassburg on the Samara.(east side of the Volga).
At the time Esther completed her book, she was working in Independeance, Kansas forthe Telephone Company, and articles on her book appeared in the Telephone Times; and theIndependence, KS, Reporter of 7 Jun 1970. Over the years, Esther has donated copies to some60 libraries and genealogical societies. She loaned me her book, so that I could put it in our database, and she has answered dozens of questions so that we could get our information asaccurate as possible. She has kept up with her extended family. There are several thousandadditional names in our data base due to her help. The computer Descendancy Chart of JacobWeber alone ran 25 pages.
Johann Friedrich Heinze was born abt. 1804 in Dreispitz. He was a doctor. He died inthat village about 1856 at age 52. His parents were Friedrich Heinze and ...Schuber. His wife,Eva Elizabeth Langhofer was born abt 1808. She lived with her oldest son, Gottfried and hissecond wife until she died at age 90 or 92 in Dreispitz. Of the nine children of this couple, threeremained in Russia: Gottfried m. Maria Katharina Steinle; Sophia m. Gottfried "Schwartzafede"Langhofer; Andrew m. Mary K. Heffel
The six children coming to America were; Sabina Elizabeth m. Henry Steinly; She diedin Dorrance Kansas. Maria Katherine m. John David Klein. She died in Shattuck, Oklahoma.Reinhardt m. Susanna Elizabeth Gudtschmidt. He died in Dorrance, KS. David "King Dave' m.Sophia Steinle. He died in Wilson, KS. Katrenlistbet m. Gottfried Beisel. She died in Dorrance,as did Peter the youngest who m. Juliana Weber These last two are the grand parents of EstherHeinze Miller.
Peter Heinze arrived in Baltimore with his nephew, Peter Steinle, on 7 Dec 1875. Theysettled in Marion and Dickinson Counties, near Peabody and Marion, Kansas. Peter worked in aflour mill at Enterprise, Kansas. He married Juliana C. Weber on 12 Nov 1877.
Her parents were Jacob Weber born on. 13 Feb 1818 in Dreispitz and died 5 Jul 1903 inOkeene, Oklahoma; and Mary Barbara Heinze born abt. 1821 in Russia, and died between 1884and 1894 in Dorrance, Kansas. Jacob Weber and family left Strassburg Russia and arrived inNew York by way of Liverpool on 21 Feb 1876. they settled in Lincolnville, Kansas. Later theyhomesteaded at Dorrance, south of the Smoky Hill River. The five children coming with themwere: Juniana age 20; William age 18' Mary Katherine age 16; Anna abt. 14; and Christopher,12.
The fourth child of Peter Heinze and Juliana Weber was David Henry "Twin Dave"Heinze. (1882-1956) He married Sofia Elizabeth "Lizzie" Pfenning. (1879-1957) These are theparents of Esther Henize Miller.