"HILDA's GOLDEN HERITAGE" book, 1974 —
John Murschell was born in Sochdayer, Crimea on May 21st, 1889. This was a farming district near the Black Sea Port of Simferopol. Probably the fondest memory of his boyhood was the swimming in the Black Sea. Swimming was possible most of the year, due to the warm climate in that part of Russia. Most of the boys became very strong swimmers, and often swam out great distances, sometimes as far out to where the larger steamships travelled on their way to Simferopol.
In October 1905, following the death of his father, John, then 16, and his older brother Emanuel, aged 19, decided to immigrate to the United States. They boarded a ship at Senferopal and sailed to Odessa. There they boarded a train for Moscow. There they were held up for a couple of weeks due to a rail strike. In those days very different methods were used to settle strikes. Martial law was quickly declared and troops with fixed bayonets were stationed all over the rail yards. Shots were frequently heard day and night, but John never saw anyone actually hit.
The passengers were strictly confined to temporary living quarters. Their baggage was searched and they were questioned several times. However, they were well paid for their inconvenience and actually were money ahead when they resumed their journey. Several passengers and all of the original train crew were not aboard then, and no one ever found out what happened to them.
From Moscow their rail journey took them through Eastern Europe to the German Port, Bremen. Highlight of this part of their journey was the passage through Germany, mostly because of the delightful and excellent German beer, which they apparently sampled amply at every opportunity.
At Bremen they boarded the German passenger liner "Semmia" which took them to New York. They landed on Christmas Day. From New York they went to Hosmer, South Dakota where they had an uncle. John worked on his uncle's farm for a year, while Emanuel got employment on a rail road as a crew member, mostly fireman.
Life was much more exciting in the U.S.A. and time passed a lot quicker it seemed. The boys quickly learned the English language and John even played on the local baseball team. He had a very strong throwing arm. The manager tried very hard to make a pitcher out of him. However his control left a lot to be desired. When John delivered his "smoker" nobody, including himself, had a clue as to what it would do, or where it would land. He was finally assigned to first base, a position he held for the full seven years he played with the "Hosmer Hot Shots". Years later when John settled in the Hilda disrict, an interesting reunion took place between himself and the second baseman of a rival team. This was none other than the very colorful Fred Pudwell.
After a year on the farm, John took a short course at a Business College and then got a job at a general store in Hosmer, where he worked the rest of his stay in the U.S.A.
In 1912 John and Emanuel got word that the rest of their family were immigrating to Canada. The two brothers decided to do the same. They came first to Calgary and then travelled to Hilda.
All of the good level land had already been homesteaded, so John had to settle in the rougher land about ten miles west and two miles north of Hilda. He built the traditional sod house, bought some horses and began breaking the prairie land. Life was very hard and discouraging at times. However in true pioneer spirit John and Emanuel decided to stick it out. For years they had to haul grain long distances. These places included, Irvine, Burstall, Medicine Hat and Estuary. When the railroad came to Hilda, it must have been quite a blessing.
There was good hunting and fishing and John soon became a very ardent sportsman. No matter how hard he worked during the week, he never too tired on a Sunday morning to jump on his saddle horse, "Happy", and ride to the Saskatchewan River to fish, or join his hunting partner, Johnny Fricch, to go after antelope or deer.
On March 16th, 1919 John married Hilda Maier. Their marriage was blessed with two sons; Max born on October 14th, 1921 and Vern born on January 2nd, 1929. Max took over the original farm in 1952. Vern is at present the manager of an Oil Well Supply Store in Rocky Mountain
House, Alberta.
After adding substantially to his original quarter (S.E.¼ Sec. 18, Twp. 18, R. 2, W. 4.) John and his wife decided it was time to retire, they moved to Medicine Hat in 1955. However he still loved the land, and for several years he came out to help along on the farm during the summer and fall.
Gradually his health began to fail. His visits to the farm became less and less. It was a sad day when he realized he had to give up driving his car and had to sell it.
He passed away on December 10th, 1971. At the time of his passing he left to mourn his wife, two sons, three grandchildren and one great grandchild.
Bio by Max
==============================
John Murschell was born in Sochdayer, Crimea on May 21st, 1889. This was a farming district near the Black Sea Port of Simferopol. Probably the fondest memory of his boyhood was the swimming in the Black Sea. Swimming was possible most of the year, due to the warm climate in that part of Russia. Most of the boys became very strong swimmers, and often swam out great distances, sometimes as far out to where the larger steamships travelled on their way to Simferopol.
In October 1905, following the death of his father, John, then 16, and his older brother Emanuel, aged 19, decided to immigrate to the United States. They boarded a ship at Senferopal and sailed to Odessa. There they boarded a train for Moscow. There they were held up for a couple of weeks due to a rail strike. In those days very different methods were used to settle strikes. Martial law was quickly declared and troops with fixed bayonets were stationed all over the rail yards. Shots were frequently heard day and night, but John never saw anyone actually hit.
The passengers were strictly confined to temporary living quarters. Their baggage was searched and they were questioned several times. However, they were well paid for their inconvenience and actually were money ahead when they resumed their journey. Several passengers and all of the original train crew were not aboard then, and no one ever found out what happened to them.
From Moscow their rail journey took them through Eastern Europe to the German Port, Bremen. Highlight of this part of their journey was the passage through Germany, mostly because of the delightful and excellent German beer, which they apparently sampled amply at every opportunity.
At Bremen they boarded the German passenger liner "Semmia" which took them to New York. They landed on Christmas Day. From New York they went to Hosmer, South Dakota where they had an uncle. John worked on his uncle's farm for a year, while Emanuel got employment on a rail road as a crew member, mostly fireman.
Life was much more exciting in the U.S.A. and time passed a lot quicker it seemed. The boys quickly learned the English language and John even played on the local baseball team. He had a very strong throwing arm. The manager tried very hard to make a pitcher out of him. However his control left a lot to be desired. When John delivered his "smoker" nobody, including himself, had a clue as to what it would do, or where it would land. He was finally assigned to first base, a position he held for the full seven years he played with the "Hosmer Hot Shots". Years later when John settled in the Hilda disrict, an interesting reunion took place between himself and the second baseman of a rival team. This was none other than the very colorful Fred Pudwell.
After a year on the farm, John took a short course at a Business College and then got a job at a general store in Hosmer, where he worked the rest of his stay in the U.S.A.
In 1912 John and Emanuel got word that the rest of their family were immigrating to Canada. The two brothers decided to do the same. They came first to Calgary and then travelled to Hilda.
All of the good level land had already been homesteaded, so John had to settle in the rougher land about ten miles west and two miles north of Hilda. He built the traditional sod house, bought some horses and began breaking the prairie land. Life was very hard and discouraging at times. However in true pioneer spirit John and Emanuel decided to stick it out. For years they had to haul grain long distances. These places included, Irvine, Burstall, Medicine Hat and Estuary. When the railroad came to Hilda, it must have been quite a blessing.
There was good hunting and fishing and John soon became a very ardent sportsman. No matter how hard he worked during the week, he never too tired on a Sunday morning to jump on his saddle horse, "Happy", and ride to the Saskatchewan River to fish, or join his hunting partner, Johnny Fricch, to go after antelope or deer.
On March 16th, 1919 John married Hilda Maier. Their marriage was blessed with two sons; Max born on October 14th, 1921 and Vern born on January 2nd, 1929. Max took over the original farm in 1952. Vern is at present the manager of an Oil Well Supply Store in Rocky Mountain
House, Alberta.
After adding substantially to his original quarter (S.E.¼ Sec. 18, Twp. 18, R. 2, W. 4.) John and his wife decided it was time to retire, they moved to Medicine Hat in 1955. However he still loved the land, and for several years he came out to help along on the farm during the summer and fall.
Gradually his health began to fail. His visits to the farm became less and less. It was a sad day when he realized he had to give up driving his car and had to sell it.
He passed away on December 10th, 1971. At the time of his passing he left to mourn his wife, two sons, three grandchildren and one great grandchild.
Bio by Max
==============================
"HILDA's GOLDEN HERITAGE" book, 1974 —
John Murschell was born in Sochdayer, Crimea on May 21st, 1889. This was a farming district near the Black Sea Port of Simferopol. Probably the fondest memory of his boyhood was the swimming in the Black Sea. Swimming was possible most of the year, due to the warm climate in that part of Russia. Most of the boys became very strong swimmers, and often swam out great distances, sometimes as far out to where the larger steamships travelled on their way to Simferopol.
In October 1905, following the death of his father, John, then 16, and his older brother Emanuel, aged 19, decided to immigrate to the United States. They boarded a ship at Senferopal and sailed to Odessa. There they boarded a train for Moscow. There they were held up for a couple of weeks due to a rail strike. In those days very different methods were used to settle strikes. Martial law was quickly declared and troops with fixed bayonets were stationed all over the rail yards. Shots were frequently heard day and night, but John never saw anyone actually hit.
The passengers were strictly confined to temporary living quarters. Their baggage was searched and they were questioned several times. However, they were well paid for their inconvenience and actually were money ahead when they resumed their journey. Several passengers and all of the original train crew were not aboard then, and no one ever found out what happened to them.
From Moscow their rail journey took them through Eastern Europe to the German Port, Bremen. Highlight of this part of their journey was the passage through Germany, mostly because of the delightful and excellent German beer, which they apparently sampled amply at every opportunity.
At Bremen they boarded the German passenger liner "Semmia" which took them to New York. They landed on Christmas Day. From New York they went to Hosmer, South Dakota where they had an uncle. John worked on his uncle's farm for a year, while Emanuel got employment on a rail road as a crew member, mostly fireman.
Life was much more exciting in the U.S.A. and time passed a lot quicker it seemed. The boys quickly learned the English language and John even played on the local baseball team. He had a very strong throwing arm. The manager tried very hard to make a pitcher out of him. However his control left a lot to be desired. When John delivered his "smoker" nobody, including himself, had a clue as to what it would do, or where it would land. He was finally assigned to first base, a position he held for the full seven years he played with the "Hosmer Hot Shots". Years later when John settled in the Hilda disrict, an interesting reunion took place between himself and the second baseman of a rival team. This was none other than the very colorful Fred Pudwell.
After a year on the farm, John took a short course at a Business College and then got a job at a general store in Hosmer, where he worked the rest of his stay in the U.S.A.
In 1912 John and Emanuel got word that the rest of their family were immigrating to Canada. The two brothers decided to do the same. They came first to Calgary and then travelled to Hilda.
All of the good level land had already been homesteaded, so John had to settle in the rougher land about ten miles west and two miles north of Hilda. He built the traditional sod house, bought some horses and began breaking the prairie land. Life was very hard and discouraging at times. However in true pioneer spirit John and Emanuel decided to stick it out. For years they had to haul grain long distances. These places included, Irvine, Burstall, Medicine Hat and Estuary. When the railroad came to Hilda, it must have been quite a blessing.
There was good hunting and fishing and John soon became a very ardent sportsman. No matter how hard he worked during the week, he never too tired on a Sunday morning to jump on his saddle horse, "Happy", and ride to the Saskatchewan River to fish, or join his hunting partner, Johnny Fricch, to go after antelope or deer.
On March 16th, 1919 John married Hilda Maier. Their marriage was blessed with two sons; Max born on October 14th, 1921 and Vern born on January 2nd, 1929. Max took over the original farm in 1952. Vern is at present the manager of an Oil Well Supply Store in Rocky Mountain
House, Alberta.
After adding substantially to his original quarter (S.E.¼ Sec. 18, Twp. 18, R. 2, W. 4.) John and his wife decided it was time to retire, they moved to Medicine Hat in 1955. However he still loved the land, and for several years he came out to help along on the farm during the summer and fall.
Gradually his health began to fail. His visits to the farm became less and less. It was a sad day when he realized he had to give up driving his car and had to sell it.
He passed away on December 10th, 1971. At the time of his passing he left to mourn his wife, two sons, three grandchildren and one great grandchild.
Bio by Max
==============================
John Murschell was born in Sochdayer, Crimea on May 21st, 1889. This was a farming district near the Black Sea Port of Simferopol. Probably the fondest memory of his boyhood was the swimming in the Black Sea. Swimming was possible most of the year, due to the warm climate in that part of Russia. Most of the boys became very strong swimmers, and often swam out great distances, sometimes as far out to where the larger steamships travelled on their way to Simferopol.
In October 1905, following the death of his father, John, then 16, and his older brother Emanuel, aged 19, decided to immigrate to the United States. They boarded a ship at Senferopal and sailed to Odessa. There they boarded a train for Moscow. There they were held up for a couple of weeks due to a rail strike. In those days very different methods were used to settle strikes. Martial law was quickly declared and troops with fixed bayonets were stationed all over the rail yards. Shots were frequently heard day and night, but John never saw anyone actually hit.
The passengers were strictly confined to temporary living quarters. Their baggage was searched and they were questioned several times. However, they were well paid for their inconvenience and actually were money ahead when they resumed their journey. Several passengers and all of the original train crew were not aboard then, and no one ever found out what happened to them.
From Moscow their rail journey took them through Eastern Europe to the German Port, Bremen. Highlight of this part of their journey was the passage through Germany, mostly because of the delightful and excellent German beer, which they apparently sampled amply at every opportunity.
At Bremen they boarded the German passenger liner "Semmia" which took them to New York. They landed on Christmas Day. From New York they went to Hosmer, South Dakota where they had an uncle. John worked on his uncle's farm for a year, while Emanuel got employment on a rail road as a crew member, mostly fireman.
Life was much more exciting in the U.S.A. and time passed a lot quicker it seemed. The boys quickly learned the English language and John even played on the local baseball team. He had a very strong throwing arm. The manager tried very hard to make a pitcher out of him. However his control left a lot to be desired. When John delivered his "smoker" nobody, including himself, had a clue as to what it would do, or where it would land. He was finally assigned to first base, a position he held for the full seven years he played with the "Hosmer Hot Shots". Years later when John settled in the Hilda disrict, an interesting reunion took place between himself and the second baseman of a rival team. This was none other than the very colorful Fred Pudwell.
After a year on the farm, John took a short course at a Business College and then got a job at a general store in Hosmer, where he worked the rest of his stay in the U.S.A.
In 1912 John and Emanuel got word that the rest of their family were immigrating to Canada. The two brothers decided to do the same. They came first to Calgary and then travelled to Hilda.
All of the good level land had already been homesteaded, so John had to settle in the rougher land about ten miles west and two miles north of Hilda. He built the traditional sod house, bought some horses and began breaking the prairie land. Life was very hard and discouraging at times. However in true pioneer spirit John and Emanuel decided to stick it out. For years they had to haul grain long distances. These places included, Irvine, Burstall, Medicine Hat and Estuary. When the railroad came to Hilda, it must have been quite a blessing.
There was good hunting and fishing and John soon became a very ardent sportsman. No matter how hard he worked during the week, he never too tired on a Sunday morning to jump on his saddle horse, "Happy", and ride to the Saskatchewan River to fish, or join his hunting partner, Johnny Fricch, to go after antelope or deer.
On March 16th, 1919 John married Hilda Maier. Their marriage was blessed with two sons; Max born on October 14th, 1921 and Vern born on January 2nd, 1929. Max took over the original farm in 1952. Vern is at present the manager of an Oil Well Supply Store in Rocky Mountain
House, Alberta.
After adding substantially to his original quarter (S.E.¼ Sec. 18, Twp. 18, R. 2, W. 4.) John and his wife decided it was time to retire, they moved to Medicine Hat in 1955. However he still loved the land, and for several years he came out to help along on the farm during the summer and fall.
Gradually his health began to fail. His visits to the farm became less and less. It was a sad day when he realized he had to give up driving his car and had to sell it.
He passed away on December 10th, 1971. At the time of his passing he left to mourn his wife, two sons, three grandchildren and one great grandchild.
Bio by Max
==============================
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