Epp, Claas (b. 1803)
Proper Title
Claas Epp fonds
Dates of Creation
1879
Physical Description
1 cm of textual records
Biographical Sketch
Claas Epp was born on January 1, 1803, in West Prussia. On March 20, 1825, he married Margaretha Klassen who was born as the 10th of 17 children to Dirk (1765–1843) and Anna (Penner) (1769–1824) Klassen on July 21, 1800, in the village of Fürstenwerder. The couple had eleven children together.
Most notable of their children was the seventh child, Claas, born September 21, 1838, who became the dynamic and radical leader of a group who, in 1880, followed him east to await the coming of the Lord.
Claas and Margaretha lived in Fürstenwerder where Claas became mayor. In 1853, one of the last Prussian groups left for Russia. Epp was deputized to lead this group and authorized by the Russian government to supervise it. He was among the first immigrants in 1853 and began one of the first settlements in the Volga region. The family settled in the village of Hahnsau in the Am Trakt settlement. Margaretha died on October 10, 1873, and Claas’s death year is unknown.
Custodial History
The custodial history is unknown.
Scope and Content
This collection contains two items. The first is a photocopy of Claas Epp’s account of the trek from Prussia to Russia, written in German Gothic script. The second item is a transliteration of the first item in Latin script.
Notes
- Volume 941.
- Title based on contents of the fonds.
- Described by Conrad Stoesz October 25, 1999.
- Accession Nos. Unknown.
File List
Volume 941
- “Unsere Auswanderung aus Pruszen und die Traktsche Schwasmerei...” in Gothic cursive. -- 1879, photocopied [ca. 198-?].
- Transliteration of “Unsere Auswanderung aus Pruszen und die Traktsche Schwasmerei...” into contemporary German script. -- [ca. 198-?].