Gib Burgan has spent countless hours researching cemetery records and information from more than 16 churches to find the graves of immigrants born in Russia who died in US. He used Betty Graber Hartzler’s database, Vern Schrag’s “Identifying of Swiss-Volhynian Immigrants from Russia 1874”, Jerry Juhnke’s new G&H Project (Genealogical and Historical Project), Harley Stucky’s Ship List, plus Ancestry.com and Find a Grave. Gib and his wife Kay Krehbiel drove to South Dakota to discover the approximately 230 immigrants buried in Salem Church and Salem Zion Church cemeteries.
At the 150th celebration, Gib recognized the Kansas immigrants by placing a medallion on the gravestone with a flag beside it. The names and locations of these immigrants at Eden, Hopefield, and First Mennonite of Christian are listed in the sheets below so you can visit the graves of your ancestor relatives any time. Some early burials were marked with a wooden cross that burned or was lost so some burials sites can be longer be found. Nearly 1,000 Swiss Volhynian ancestors are listed in Gib’s book including Swiss Volhynian Mennonites buried at other cemeteries at Pretty Prairie, Kingman, Burns, Halstead, Burrton, Mound Township, McPherson City in Kansas and some in Oregon and Colorado and other states. Contact Gib at hopper4life70@gmail.com if you need specific details. This effort allows us to honor and not forget the very important people who are part of our heritage.