Father's Parents
Mother's Parents:
Father & Mother:
Father: David Tschetter (1840-1906)
Mother: Maria Hofer Tschetter (1842-1914)
Children:
#1: David D. Tschetter (1862-1952)
#2: Barbara Tschetter (1865-1941)
#3: Maria Tschetter Fast (1869-1950)
#4: Anna Tschetter (1871-?)
#5: Jacob H. Tschetter (1873-1932)
#6: Sarah Tschetter Glanzer (1875-1924)
#7: Michael Tschetter (1879-?)
#8: Joseph Tschetter (1881-1949)
#9: Susanna Tschetter (1883-1968)
from the "Life Story of David Tschetter, 1840-1906"
[David Tschetter, father of Barbara Tschetter Stahl, mother of Katherine Stahl Tschetter, mother of Violet Tschetter Vegter, mother of Kathy Vegter Dean]
Written by grandson Joe H Tschetter (died 1973), Emery SD
My grandfather, David Tschetter, migrated from South Russia to America in the year of 1874 and settled along the Wolf Creek, about 12 miles southwest of Bridgewater. This is about 1/2 mile from where the Salem KMB Church is now located. After Joe D. Tschetter retired, John M. Hofer moved on the place and is still there. Grandfather lived through the hardships of pioneer life like the rest: grasshoppers, blizzards, low prices, etc.
He was fortunate to bring along a few thousand dollars to America which gave him a good start. The barn was attached to the house which served its purpose well for those days. This was a large family of ten children. The sons and daughters were as follows:
1. David Tschetter married Justina Pullman (Doffa) Huron
2. Maria married Jacob Fast
3. Barbara married Joshua Stahl, Huron
4. Anna married Jacob Goosen
5. Jacob H. Tschetter married Maria Glanzer, Bridgewater
6. Sarah married David J Glanzer, Bridgewater
7. Michael married Barbara Wurtz, Huron
8. Susanna married Joseph Hofer, Huron
9. Kathrina married Ed Wurtz (She and two daughters died of Spanish Flu in WWI)
10. Joe D. Tschetter married Kathrina Hofer
Grandfather was a good manager and acquired enough wealth to give each child a good start in life. However, this was not the most important to him. He sought the will of God. Grandfather was a short and heavy built man being quite skillful. He could apply himself to most any task, such as carpenter work, blacksmith, and even house work because his wife was often sick. He was well known as a tailor (Schneider Doffa) because he liked to model men's clothing, for which there was a demand at that time. Many hours were spent doing this kind of work in winter, because he liked to do it.
Whatever schooling was offered to him in his youth was of great importance in later life. The few essential subjects centered around Bible instruction from able teachers who got their culture direct from Germany. Much Scripture was memorized, which was stored away in the minds and hearts for a time of need when the going was rough. Grandmother stood by her husband in all of her husband's undertakings, as a busy wife with a frail body and a very quiet nature. Her name was Marie (Hofer) Tschetter. She had some brothers Jacob and Michael (We don't know of the rest).
When a spiritual awakening came to this community in the 80's, he got converted under the ministry of Wiefe Brothers Jacob, Peter, and Henry and was baptized on November 25, 1886 (Wolf Creek) by Rev. Henry Wiefe. This was the beginning of the KMB church by Bridgewater. 1884 marks the organization of the church of which he was a charter member. His family followed him as the years went by. This new leading made a tremendous impact on their lives.
This group gave individual responsibility to the laymen and freedom of expression. They put special emphasis on revival meetings, changed from dictation to songbooks with notes which led to part singing. They even practiced foot washing. There was a need of organizing a Sunday school, which was a altogether new but successful.
Grandfather was no preacher but he gave special free service as a janitor for many years. This was voluntary service for the Lord. He would walk across the hills at 5:00 o'clock in the morning in sub zero weather to heat up the church and walk back home, do the chores, and bring his family for the service. Many occasions also needed heat and lights at church which was all included in the job. Their religion cost them something. What does it cost us? All his children joined this church as the years went by.
To do all this effectively they found it necessary to meet every Sunday at the church from 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 o'clock in the afternoon. In the forenoon it was regular service and in the afternoon was Sunday school and testimony meetings. For the noon lunch they had a simple menu of zweiback (?) and coffee, and a flavor of jam; all the men separated from the women. The noon hour was fellowship time for old and young.
Since there were no cars, the horses used for transportation were put in barns for shelter. In later years the congregation invested in a big tent with all its equipment. This tent served its purpose well for accommodating big crowds when the weather was warm and favorable. The tent cost $400.00.
Special credit goes to Dedrich and Henry Goosen of Silver lake who where prompted by the Holy Spirit to come and help with the ministry and share special blessings and hardship of the new church among the Hutterish people. They prayed on their knees. There was a brotherly relationship and appreciation of each other and the Lord blessed their efforts in the years to come.
Grandfather died unexpectedly, August 19, 1906, on a hot day in August. It was during harvest time when he apparently died of high blood pressure, which caused a stroke. In a few hours of suffering, his soul went to be with the Lord.
Due to circumstances of the time, the funeral was in the shade of the north side of the house with many people attending. He was buried in the back end of the garden. Several years later when the church had cemeteries, the remains of his body were transferred to the Mennonite Salem KMB cemetery where he waits for the resurrection morning. Grandmother lived 8 years longer. His tombstone is found in the lots among the Tschetters with this inscription:
David Tschetter
Born 1840 February 29
Died 1906 August 19
Wife Maria Tschetter
Born 1842 January 20
Died 1914 December 11