Ottilie Schlacht married Johann Hauch near Solomka, Russia in 1904. They immigrated via New York in 1905. This area of Russia was known as Volhynia. It is now part of the Ukraine. Schlacht in German refers to war, warrior or battle. There is also a German dish name a “Schlacht plate” and consists of large portion of meat, perhaps a dish to sustain you in battle?

Johann Hauch’s parents were Karl Hauch and Mary Tiefenbacker. Records indicate they married in Solomka in 1859. Solomka is the same village as Friederichsdorf in Volhynia. I have heard family members say that Karl Hauch was a “college professor” and that they came to America but did not like it so he and his wife returned to the old country. John, Ottilie and Wilhelm Hauch came to America in 1905. It is also said that John and Tillie’s first son, Wilhelm, was born on the ship coming over. It is recorded that he was born in Russia. His death record indicates he was born in Michigan in 1904 and entire year before they arrived? I have also heard that Tillie had to hide the infant William under her clothing as they made their escape from Russia. It is reported that she said that they had to cover the baby’s mouth so he would not be discovered.

Johann Hauch was born on 19 Apr 1880 in Friederichsdorf, also known as Solomka and died at 37 years of age on 02 Aug 1917 in New Troy, Michigan. Otillie was born on 13 May 1885 in “Warscho Poland” and died at 82 years of age on 13 Mar 1968 in Bridgman, Michigan. John and Tillie had five children:
William Hauch born 02 Feb 1905 in Russia who changed his last name to Howe
August Hauch born 18 Aug 1907 in Benton Harbor, Michigan
Lydia Hauch born 10 Dec 1910 in New Troy, Michigan
Otto Hauch born 14 Aug 1913 in New Troy, Michigan
John Hauch (II) born May 13, 1916 in New Troy, Michigan

Tillie (Schlacht) Hauch remarried in 1919. She married Julius Peter and they were lived on a farm at the northeast corner of the intersection of Pardee and Wagner Roads in New Troy, Weesaw Township of Berrien County, Michigan. Julius was a widower and had six children:

Anna (Ida) Peter born 24 Jun 1910 in Russia

Olga (Vie) Peter born 03 May 1912 in Russia

Martha Peter born 26 Jan 1914 in Dowagiac, Michigan

Elsie Peter born 18 Jul 1915 in Baroda, Michigan

Adolph Peter born 25 Sep 1916 in Baroda, Michigan

Edna Peter born 22 Aug 1918 in Baroda, Michigan

Note: Martha Peter reportedly died of tuberculosis as a young woman.

In the 1920 census of Berrien County Ida is recorded as Anna and Vie is recorded as Olga, which is her given name. After the marriage took place Tillie and Julius had six children of their own for a total of seventeen children in this extended family:

Gustie Peter born 15 Apr 1920 in New Troy, Michigan

Gustave Peter born 15 Apr 1920 in New Tory, Michigan

Albert Peter born 23 Aug 1923 in New Troy, Michigan

Evelyn Peter born 22 May 1925 in New Troy, Michigan

Geraldine Peter born about 1927 in New Troy, Michigan

There was also a stillborn baby.

Geraldine Peter died at the age of seven from diphtheria. Gustave Peter was known as “Gust” and "Feach". Gustie and Gust were twins.

In census records both Tille and Julius Peter reported that their parents were born in Poland but spoke German and that they were born in Russia and spoke Russian. This I feel proves these were Russian-German families living in Volhynia, which had been part of Poland. The Julius Peter family immigrated in 1912. In 1920, Julius, Tillie, and William and the two older Peter's children are listed as aliens (not yet citizens). It is reported that Julius's first wife's name was Ann Getz. The records indicate her name was Mary or Marie. Julius Peter, Tillie Peter, John Hauch (I), Geraldine Peter and the stillborn baby are buried near each other in the New Troy Cemetery in New Troy, Michigan

The census-taker spelled the Hauch name as Hough. I have also seen it spelled Houk and Hauck. The census-takers were dealing with a language barrier and they often spelled names as they sounded. A person fluent in German said that hauch is German for breath and that it is pronounced howg. There is a guttural sound at the end that could be ch or gh. William Hauch later changed his last name to Howe, as he felt this was a truer spelling of the name than Hauch. Schlacht is the German word for battle. This name is also spelled Schlecht, Shlect, Shleck.

On April 14, 1905 the passenger ship "S.S. Patricia" sailed from Hamburgh, Germany. The ship arrived in New York on April 28, 1905. On this ship were:
Johann Hauch 25 years of age (John) his wife - Ottilie Hauch 19 years of age (Tillie)
their son - Wilhelm 2 months of age (William)
Carl Hauch 60 years of age (Johann's father)
and his wife - Marie Hauch 58 years of age (Johann's mother)

They had left Solomka and were headed for Benton Harbor, Michigan. Solomka was a German colony in Volhynia. Solomka was 186 miles west of Kiev and just north of Rovno in the Ukraine. It is listed as a minor village, too small to appear on world maps. Volhynia was a part of Russia that became part of the Ukraine. This area of Russia was once part of Poland and had been occupied by Russia since 1793. Germans had been invited to settle in Russia as early as 1780 by Catherine the Great. Catherine was German herself. She was born in Prussia.

In these ship records Johann Hauch is listed as a laborer and so is Carl Hauch. The family story is that Carl Hauch did not like it here and stayed long enough to "buy a warm winter coat" and then returned to Germany. It is believed his wife, Marie, must have returned also. He must have also earned enough for passage on the return train to New York and the ship back. At this time Germans were fleeing Russia to avoid persecution and it is not likely that he went back to Volhynia. Catherine the Great had promised the German immigrants to Russia that they could retain their German language and ways. Later Czars began to require them to speak the Russian language and began making service in the military mandatory. The family story is that Johann's wife Ottilie had worked as a domestic for some Russian soldiers and would chase their dog around with a broom. The Russian soldiers could not figure out why the dog always wanted to go outside. Russia had a war going with Japan in 1904 and was not doing well so they began carting off the German men to fight. The story as told is that Ottilie had to cover Wilhelm's (William's) mouth as they escaped to prevent the Russians from hearing the baby cry. If caught by the Russians and even some Germans they would have been forced to return.

It was reported that the Hauch family lived on Morton Hill in Benton Harbor prior to coming to the New Troy, Michigan area. There is a Morton Street that is on a hill in Benton Harbor. There were boarding houses in that area at that time. It is likely that they lived with relatives, either hers or his. It has been found that they had come to stay with John’s brother William (Wilhelm) Hauch in Benton Harbor. The German immigrants came to Benton Harbor as laborers in the factories and as farmers. It is said that John Hauch was a deaf mute and that he worked in a shipbuilding factory in Benton Harbor before coming to New Troy and starting fruit farming. He apparently overcame his handicap and had good mechanical ability. These Germans were experienced fruit growers. It is said that the area of Berrien County, Michigan reminded them of the land in Volhynia.

John Hauch died in 1917 of tuberculosis and is buried in the New Troy Cemetery. Tillie Hauch, whose maiden name was Schlacht or Schlack remarried Julius Peter. Julius was born in Roschische, Russia. Tillie Peter died on 13 Mar 1968 at the age of 82. This group of Germans from Russia tended to marry other Germans from Russia. There were two groups of these Germans in Berrien County, one group from the Volga region and the other from Volhynia. Julius and Tillie Peter are buried adjacent to John Hauch. Ottilie's brother, Edward Schlack lived and farmed in Sawyer, Michigan. His death record indicates his birthplace was Russia and that his father was “Louis Schlact”. Edward died in Sawyer on 31 Oct 1928 and is buried in the Greenwood Cemetery near Bridgman, Michigan. He was 64 years, 8 months and 17 days old when he died.

According to the 1920 Berrien County, Michigan census records: Tillie Peter was born in Russia and spoke Russian. It also states her parents were both born in Poland and spoke German. This is evidence of the Volhynian Germans. On 06 Apr 1919, in Berrien County, Julius Peter married Tillie Hauch. He was 34 years of age and she was 35 years old. Julius Peter’s first wife was Mary Getz who was deceased. The record states that Tillie’s maiden name was “Sleckt”. Her father is recorded as Lewie Sleckt and her mother’s maiden name is recorded as … Yunton. Julius Peter’s father is recorded as Samuel Peter and his mother’s maiden name is recorded as … Getz. Mary Getz’s father was Anton Getz and her mother’s maiden name was … Flater. Information provided by Gustie (Peter) Anderson says that Julius’s father was W. Samuel Peter born in 1857 and his mother was Rosalie Kenziff born in 1856.

Both Tillie and Julius Peter have a citizenship file in Berrien County. Hers is petition number 1471 and his is number1413. Julius Peter applied for citizenship on 21 Aug 1923. Tillie Peter applied for citizenship on 08 Jun 1928.

According to these documents Julius Peter was born on 06 Aug 1886 in “Roschische, Russia”. He had emigrated from Bremen, Germany and arrived in Baltimore Maryland on 06 Sep 1912 aboard the ship “Main”. His last place of residence is listed as “Sdolbunowo, Russia”. Tillie Peter was born on 13 May 1885 in “Warscho, Poland”. She immigrated from “Libau, Poland” and arrived in New York on 20 Apr 1905 aboard the ship “Patricia”. It has been found that Tillie actually arrived through Ellis Island and their ship had sailed from Hamburg, Germany. At this time she was married to John Hauch. It is from these citizenship records that I found the dates of birth for their children.

The question has been asked if Tillie was Polish and the answer is no. She was of German descent but was born and living in this area of Poland that was under Russian/German occupation. The reason she says she was born in Poland is probably because she sympathized with the Polish people of this area and their oppression. The area she was living in before she left Russia was called Volhynia.

The Edward Schlack who lived near Sawyer, Michigan and is presumed to be Tillie’s brother. He can be found in the 1910 and 1920 census records of Chickaming Township. In 1910 he and his wife and four children are listed as:

Schlect, Edward 44 years of age born in Russia-German

Schlect, Louise 46 years of age born in Russia-German

Schlect, Anna 15 years of age born in Russia-German

Schlect, Bertha 13 years of age born in Russia-German

Schlect, Edward 10 years of age born in Russia-German

Schlect, Augusta 7 years of age born in Michigan

In 1920 he and his wife appear as:

Schlack, Edward 55 years of age born in Poland-Russia

Schlack, Lizzie 57 years of age born in Poland-Russia

Both are listed as speaking German. Death records indicate Edward died in Sawyer but the death place of Louise or Elizabeth, as her tombstone reads, was Benton Harbor. Elizabeth Schlack died on 10 Aug 1943. Her death record gives her father’s name as Mathian Leunig born in Russia and her mother’s name as Caroline Lueck.

Marriage records in Berrien County show that Anna Schlack married on 15 Sep 1917 to Albert R. Heyn in Sawyer, Michigan and that Edward Schlack (Jr.) married on 06 Jan 1922 to Eva Kraft also in Sawyer. The pastors and the fact that they married in Sawyer indicate they were married in the Lutheran Church in Sawyer. On 12 May 1923 Augusta Slack married Charles Bateman in St. Joseph, Michigan and the ceremony was performed by a Justice of the Peace. On 15 Sep 1923 Bertha Slack married William King also in Sawyer and probably at the Lutheran Church. Their records indicate the maiden name of their mother was Roht, Rode or Road. The family name of Rode can also be found in the Volhynian Lutheran Church parish records.

Living next door to Edward and Louise Schlect in the 1910 census is a William Rhodes who was also Russian-German and very well may have been Louise (Rode) Schlack’s brother. The two census reports give different names for Edward’s wife as Louise, Lizzie and Elizabeth. It is not clear if perhaps Edward remarried especially since the children’s document give their mother’s maiden name as “Rode”.

Edward Schlack has a naturalization record in Berrien County and the information contained indicates he was born in “Chosnitz Russia”. He emigrated in May of 1900 from Bremen, Germany aboard the ship “Frederich Der Grosse” via New York. His wife was “Louise” and they had children:

Johanne born 04 July 1894 in Russia

Bertha born 12 Sep 1897 in Russia

Edward born 15 Sep 1899 in Russia

Augusta born 18 Aug 1902 in Sawyer, Michigan

His wife and Children emigrated from Bremen, Germany in July of 1901 aboard the ship “H.H. Meier” via New York and their last residence is listed as “Kysuidorf”.

Edward Schlack is included in the 1912-17 Berrien County Rural Directory as a farmer living in Sawyer with his wife, Louise and four children. The only Chosnitz I have been able to find was in West Prussia and also went by the name Chosnica and Konitz depending on the language. It is possible that Edward was born there before they went on to Volhynia. It is also possible there was a village by that name in Volhynia. Edward’s death record indicates his father’s name was “Louis Schlact” and his mother’s name as “unknown”. Tillie Hauch’s marriage record shows her father’s name as “Lewie” and her mother’s maiden name as “Yunton”. It is possible Edward and Ottilie had different mothers, as there was over 20 years difference in their ages.

Richard Sallet states in his book "The family life of the Russian-Germans in America still had strong patriarchal overtones. ... The father hired out all of his sons for wages. In this way the family saved up enough money to rent a farm or to be able to acquire its own land in a new area. The sons of Russian-Germans always, even in America, worked for their father until their marriage." He relates that after World War One there was an anti-German sentiment in America and that this led to the next generation becoming estranged from their parents. He states, "Usually the parents speak to their children in German and they respond in English. ... The old people will take their German world with them to the grave. The young will live in an American world."

Sallet states that there were 6007 Volhynian Germans in Michigan in 1920. Of those 2098 lived in Berrien County, Michigan. Of these families, I believe, were the Peter and the Hauch families.

A check of the St. Petersburgh Archives for Volyhnia was made for the names Schlacht and Jungton (Yunton). These archives can be found at the Ukranina Genealogy site: http://www.rootsweb.com/~ukrgs/volhynia/index.html and also at the Society for German Genealogy in Eastern Europe: http://www.sggee.org

They are the marriage, birth and death records for the years 1830-1885. The following were found:

Yunton (Jungton) name in Volhynia:

Johann Jungton was born 02 May 1867 in Helenow to Gottlieb and Julianne (Schmidt) Jungton.

Julianne Juntonn died 04 Feb 1868 in Rozyszcze. She was the daughter of Gottlieb Juntonn.

Julius Jungton was born 01 May 1869 in Helenow to Gottlieb and Julianne (Schmidt)* Jungton.

Adolph Jungton was born 31 Oct 1871 in Romanow to Gottlieb and Julianne (Schindel)* Jungton.

Christian Jungton was born 31 Mar 1874 in Romanowka to Gottlieb and Julianne (Schidke)* Jungton.

*Are these all the same wife or three different ones?

August Jungthun was born 20 Jan 1880 in Zablotce. He was the son of Gottlieb and Julianne (Schmidt) Jungthun.

Rosalie Jungton died 20 Jul 1881 in Padubitz. She was the daughter of Gottlieb and Julie (Schmidt) Jungton.

Amalie Jungton was born 09 Jan 1883 in Mieczyslaw. She was the daughter of Gottlieb and Julianne (Schmidt) Jungton.

Christof Jungton was born 31 Dec 1884. He was the son of Gottlieb and Julianne (Schmidt) Jungton.

Justina Jungton was born 21 May 1880 in Edwardpol. She was the daughter of Christian and Louise (Krueger) Jungton.

Wilhelmine Jungton died 19 Apr 1881 in Majelno. She was the daughter of Christian and Louise (Krueger) Jungton.

Christoph Jungton was born 25 Dec 1882 in Ludmipol. He was the son of Christian and Louise (Krueger) Jungton.

Gottlob Junthun was born 25 Aug 1882. He was the son of Ludwig and Marianna (Simon) Junthun.

Gottfried Jungton married 16 Sep 1883 in Zhitomir, Julianne Loumert.

Florentine Jungton was born 31 Oct 1884 in Zhitomir Parish. She was the daughter of Gottfried and Junlianne (Launber) Jungton. * the village was Potschalomka (Pitshalowka?)

Caroline Julianna Jungten was born 24 Jul 1883 in Wodschin. She was the daughter of Michael and Rosalie (Geuch) Jungten.

Louise Junton was born 30 Jan 1882 in Antoniewka (Antonowka?). She was the daughter of Michael and Rosalie (Jelke) Junton.

Wilhelm Jungton was born 25 Sep 1885 in Ochuzn. He was the son of Michael and Rosalie (Jeuk) Jungton. Note: These are probably the same wife just different spellings?

Christine Jungton was born 08 Jan 1883 in Pitschalowka. She was the daughter of Ferdinand and Juliann (Heister) Jungton. This may be Heisler.

Ottilie Jungton was born 07 Jul 1884 in Zhitomir Parish. She was the daughter of Ferdinand and Julianne (Heisler) Jungton. The village was Potschalomka (Pitschalowka?)

Schalcht (Schlecht) name in Volhynia:

Anna Louise Schlicht was born on 18 Oct 1857 in Dubno, Volhynia. She was the daughter of Ferdinand Schlicht and Anna Kepert. This may be Koeppert?

August Schlicht was born 22 Aug 1865 in Dubno. He was the son of Ferdinand and Rosalie (Koeppert) Schlicht.

Justina Schlecht was born 12 Oct 1868 in Rozyszcze to Erdman and Christina (Krause) Schlecht.

Pauline Schlect was born 08 Aug 1872 in Wysoki to Erdmann and Christine (Krause) Schlect.

Gottfried Schlecht married 12 May 1881 in Rozyszcze, Anna Rosine Seib.

Eduard Schlecht was born 07 Apr 1882 in Jadwigow. He was the son of Gottfried and … (Seip) Schlecht.

Eduard Schlecht died 25 May 1882 in Rozyszcze Parish. He was the son of Gottfried and Rosalie (Seep) Schlecht.

Gustav Schlecht was born 25 Jun 1883 in Jadwigow. He was the son of Gottfried and … (Seib) Schlecht.

Gottlieb Schlecht married 08 Sep 1881 in Rozyszcze, Catharine Ilgert.

Gustav Schlecht married 17 Feb 1881 in Rozyszcze, Caroline Radke.

Amalie Schlecht was born 04 Sep 1882 in Antonowka. She was the daughter of Gustav and Caroline (Radke) Schlecht.

Emilie Schlecht was born 23 Jul 1885 in Jaschinets. She was the daughter of Gustav and Caroline (Radke) Schlecht.

Mathilde Schlecht was born 25 Sep 1883 in Wysockie. She was the daughter of Gustav and Caroline (Radke) Schlecht.

Amalie Schlecht died 13 Sep 1882 in Wysoka. She was the daughter of Gustav and Caroline (Radke) Schlecht.

Wilhelm Schlecht married 03 Sep 1885, Caroline Siebert. (place not listed)

*Martin Schlecht was born 13 Nov 1882 in Pitschalowka. He was the son of Ludwig and Louise (Jungton) Shclecht.

*This is believed to be the brother of Otillie (Schlacht) Hauch who came to America in 1905 with her husband and in-laws. Her father was “Lewie” Schlacht and her mother was … Yunton. Lewie/Louis and Ludwig are the same name. Ludwig being the German form and Louis French/English. Louis is often pronounced Lewie.

Rudolph Schlecht was born 05 Jul 1883 in Pitschalowka. He was the son of Eduard and Louise (?) Schlecht. Ottillie (Schlecht) Hauch had a brother named Edward who lived in Sawyer, Michigan and his wife was named Louise.

Adeline Schlicht was born 23 Mar 1878. She was the daughter of Gustav and Christine (Buskarndt) Schlicht.

Ottilie Schlecht died 10 Jun 1880 in Jadwinowka. She was the daughter of Jacob and Rosine (Kober or Kobus) Schlecht.

Emilie Schlecht died 25 Jun 1883 in Swiezow. She was the daughter of Jacob and Rosine (Kober or Kobus) Schlecht.

The names of Jungton (Yunton) and Schlecht came together in the village of Pitschalowka. Gootlieb Jungton and Ferdinand Jungton were having children in that village about 1884. Eduard and Ludwig Schlecht were also having children in Pitschalowka in 1882-1883. Ludwig Schelcht had married Louise Jungton. Ludwig and Louise Schlecth are believed to have been the parents of Ottilie Schlecht who married John Hauch and who immigrated to America in 1905.

The interesting thing about this village is the name is sometimes also spelled Potschalmka, which looks like Pot-salomka. John Hauch was from Solomka. This may be where these three families became one.

It was customary for German Catholics to name their children after saints. The first name might have been John and the middle name Carl. The person would have been known as Carl. Several children in the same family may have the first name John but their middle name would have been the name they went by. Since this Hauch family appears to have only one given name it is probable that they were Protestants and not Catholics. Tillie Peter attended a Lutheran Church. Several of the Lutheran Churches in Berrien County had services in German. Tillie’s funeral was held in the German Church of God in Stevensville, Michigan. Her obituary said she had 50 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren at the time of her death. I have also read that the Russians would not allow these colonies to have more than one religion and thus avoid religious conflicts. Solomka and Roschische were both Lutheran colonies in Volhynia.

John Hauch (II) and Tillie (Schlacht) Peters 1940’s

John Hauch and Ottilie Schlacht were married in Volhynia, Russia in 1904. Otillie Hauch married 2^nd Julius Peter in 1919 in Berrien County, Michigan.

John Hauch (II) married Lillian Henspeter in South Bend, Indiana in 1934.

Their daughter was Jane Rae Hauch who married William Brackett in Lakeside, Berrien County, Michigan in 1970.