Lizzie Schwindt Settle (my grandma) early years 1881-1893

This is a photo of Grandma about 1960 in front of her home in Byron, Oklahoma. If you click on the photo, a larger image will appear. If you do view the larger image, hit the back arrow to return to the writing, or the website will close otherwise.

I have so many memories of my maternal grandmother, Lizzie Schwindt. As far as I know, she had no middle name. Grandma was a simple person and a decendent of a family that immigrated to America in the late 1880's. Her parents and family were German decent, but living and struggling with economic/political situations in the pre-war Russia. The Russian government had actively recruited German citizens that were farmers and the Schwindt family would be one of those families that chose to accept the invitation earlier in the 1700's as far as our family geneology could record.

At that time, the Russian goverment would honor the German citizenship and require no military draft from these German families. But as history would develop and czars, country leaders would change, the military draft to build the strength of the powerful Russian government would finally turn those decisions into active drafts for the young men of the German families. The Germans began to actively seek refuge and new life conditions in the new world, America. One of my grandfather's brothers and soon other relatives were finding their way across the Atlantic.

Then finally it happened and the story is told that my Great great grandfather said ,"Today I am losing two sons, one to the army of Russia and one to America". He was correct on both accounts. One son went to the Russian army, and my great grandfather Peter would begin the journey to America.

At this time, the family traveled across the Atlantic and entered into the port of New York as far as I can remember. There are some family historical accounts written by my mother and the accuracy of what I remember can be researched, but a lot of what I remember just came from word passed down orally from the generations. My grandma was only 5 years old when she first arrived in the USA. She was born in Norka Russia near the Black Sea in 1881 and I believe they arrived in America in 1886. They would receive their sponsor ship from one of my great grannd father's brother in Iowa I think.

This photo is Peter and Christina Schwindt born and raised in Norka, Russia. They were my Grandma Lizzie's parents who traveled with their young family to America in 1886.

Later, when the Cherokee Strip Land Rush of 1893 would open for homesteaders, my great grandfather Peter Schwindt, speaking no English, would bring his wagon and horses to the Rush near what would be now Cherokee Oklahoma. Fearful of those all around him speaking any other langauage than German, Peter would stay awake all night, scared, watching, nervous and fighting the needed sleep that would follow. The Rush began the next morning, and he would stake a property close to Burlington, Oklahoma that was near a creek.

On the left is a photo of the Settle farm in Byron, Oklahoma as it looks today. On the right is a modern photo, but the original land near Burlington, Oklahoma settled by Peter and Christina Schwindt during the Cherokee Strip Land Rush of 1893.

Building a sod house with dirt floor, the family began to farm and raise their children. English was still a problem, but they quickly found other German settlers and became members of the German Baptist church near Burlington. Grandma would be exposed to English when she entered the first grade in the public schools. Years later, I remember Grandma always spoke German to her visiting sisters and brother. We never understood what they were saying, but often times just their faces, expressions, voice tonations would give us big clues to the subjects. The Schwindt children spoke Platte Deutsch or Low German.