John Ellwein & Katharina Sailer
JOHN ELLWEINS LOOK BACK OVER FIRST HALF CENTURY OF MARRIAGE When John Ellwein came to Mercer County with his parents in 1887, the family took the wagon they came up from South Dakota in and used it to roof their first house. And 50 years after they were married in 1907, the John Ellwein’s of Hazen say, “The 50 years went so fast, like a dream.” Sometimes it was a bad dream but as they looked back over the past half century of married life at the golden wedding anniversary recently, they found the greater share of things in the “good dream” class. No Threshing There was 1936—the year they didn’t take the threshing machine into the field. There was 1906—the year that Mrs. Ellwein came to the U. S. from South Russia with her family and her brother, Gottlieb Sailer, was quarantined with scarlet fever in Phildadelphia. She stayed in Philadelphia while he recovered. He had been so ill and his clothes were changed that she didn’t recognize him at the immigration station when it came time to join the rest of the family in North Dakota. The mainline near Bismarck was washed out. The Killdeer branch had not yet been built and the two children took the Soo Line to Garrison and crossed the Missouri in a rowboat north of Pick City or at Big Bend. 150 Guests Helping them celebrate the peace and happiness they have found for the past 50 years in America were about 150 guests at Peace Lutheran Church Jan. 27. Mrs. Ellwein chose a charcoal gray dress with gold accessories and a yellow rose corsage, with a yellow boutonniere for Mr. Ellwein. Attendants at the wedding of Miss Katharina Sailer and John Ellwein at Krem Feb. 12, 1907, were Mrs. George Reinhardt, Bismarck, and Edward Tschaekofske, Golden Valley. Repeat Vows The couple repeated their wedding vows before the Rev. T. F. Doyen, recently moved to Mitchell, S.D. Mrs. Fred Weigum played the organ. A German duet was sung by Pastor and Mrs. Doyen. Albert Ellwein, a son, and Robert Ellwein, grandson, were ushers. A gold centerpiece decorated the table. In the center of the heart design were the numerals “50” in gold. Centering one of the guest tables was the original bridal veil worn by Mrs. Ellwein. Gold tapers and photographs of the couple completed the setting. Presiding at the table during the first hour were Mrs. Jacob Huber, who poured, and Mrs. Edward Knecht, who cut the three-tiered square anniversary cake. The cake was topped with a gold heart-shaped ornament. Mrs. Frieda Oster and Mrs. Peter Mohl presided the second hour. Assisting Others assisting at the reception table were Mrs. George Ellwein, Mrs. George Sailer, and Mrs. Julius Barthel. Mrs. Herbert Ziemann and Mrs. Hubert Ellwein were hostesses. Mrs. Herbert Stiefel was in charge of the guest book. Assisting about the room were Miss Sandy Ellwein and Sheila Stiefel, both granddaughters of the honored couple. A family dinner was served at the home of the Ellweins. Mr. Ellwein was born Feb. 1, 1844 (sic), Neudorf, South Russia. He came to the U. S. in 1883 with his parents and first lived in South Dakota. The following year they moved 21 miles northeast of Hazen. Mrs. Ellwein was born Aug. 18, 1886, in the political subdivision of Krem and the town of Kambar, South Russia. Her family moved to the U. S. in 1906. They were married in 1907, and moved to their present farm, homesteaded near Mannhaven still owned by them, but unoccupied, northeast of Hazen in 1908. In 1945, the couple retired from farming and moved to Hazen. They attend Peace Lutheran Church here and attended Martin Luther church in their former community. Asked why they didn’t go any further than Mercer County, Mr. Ellwein answered, “Well, we would have, but the river stopped us from going north.” They liked the land and the looks of the land, so they stayed. The looks of the land about the time they arrived was pretty barren of civilization. There was nothing between here and the Missouri river but wild prairie. Mr. Ellwein farmed with oxen for two years before turning to horses. ~Source: The Hazen Star, unknown publication date-but after 27 Jan 1957 ~Transcriber Note: The year of birth typed for Mr. Ellwein is not correct. The article stated he was born in 1844. The year of birth on his tombstone states 1884.
John Ellwein, b. 01 Feb 1884; d. 18 Sep 1959 Katharina Ellwein, b. 18 Aug 1886; d. 22 Dec 1972 Both are buried together in the Hazen Peace Lutheran Church Cemetery
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