Oorzaak: Canceroma
Note # 1 - Biographical material about the life of Andreas Christian Gabert (1849-1906), paraphrased from a letter written in 1929 by William Gabert to his son, Fred, who was a student at Concordia College at the time:
"Though of German descent, since Napoleonic times, the Gabert family made their home in Poland and in the Ukraine. The parents of Andreas Christian Gabert were Christian August and Karoline (Rutkowski) Gabert. Born in Poland, about 1826, Christian died in a logging accident in 1855, leaving Karoline destitute with three children. They were Andreas Christian (1849), Heinrich (1852) and August Jr. (1854).
"At the age of seven, Andreas Christian was compelled to leave home and find employment as a herdsman of geese and cows. He never attended school therefore could neither read nor write. He was confirmed in the Christian faith by a Lutheran pastor in 1866 at the age of 17. Later he became a journeyman and a foreman.
"In 1871, at the age of 22, Andreas Christian was conscripted into the Russian army, serving as a soldier under Czar Alexander II. He was assigned to a regiment at Archangelsk, on the White Sea. In 1876, Russia declared war on Turkey. Although Andreas Christian was to have been discharged from the army that year, his regiment was reassigned to the Balkans. By the time Andreas Christian's regiment reached the Balkans, the war was over. His regiment was further reassigned to occupy areas of Turkey. While here, Andreas and his comrades were billeted with Turkish families and were able to learn the Turkish language fairly well.
"One evening Andreas served on a night patrol in an area where he was not well acquainted. Without warning he stumbled into an open well. The well was dry, about 40 feet deep. When Andreas landed at the bottom, he found himself largely unharmed. He removed his boots and started to climb, using his bayonet for support. After about three hours, he was out of the well. This incident impressed on him God's presence in the lives of his children.
"In 1879 Andreas Christian was discharged from the Russian army. He returned to his home in Poland where in March 1880, he married Luisa Prochnau.
"Their first home was in the village of Gombin, near Warsaw, Poland. Here their first son, Friedrich Wilhelm (William) was born. In 1882 the family left Poland for a 24 acre parcel near the village of Elizawotkol, in Volhynia, the Ukraine. Five more children were born to Andreas and Luisa at this location."
Note # 2 - (G. Gabert, 1996)
Upon the encouragement of Luisa Gabert's brother, Julius Prochnau, who had already emigrated to Canada, the family decided to leave Volhynia for Canada. Preparations were made and in the summer of 1896, the family sailed for Quebec from the port of Libau, (today's Liepaja) Latvia.
The family arrived in Edmonton on 26 September 1896 with $8 in Canadian currency in their pockets. They proceeded to Julius Prochnau's homestead near Brüderheim. Luisa took ill and died on the 27 November 1896, leaving Andreas Christian with six children ranging in age from 2 to 15 years.
In 1898 Andreas Christian took Miss Emilie Bloch of Edmonton as his second wife. (She remained with the family for 11 years. See further note under: Emilie Bloch)
The summer of 1897 found Andreas homesteading a 1/4 section of land 6 miles SW of Brüderheim. Here he built a 10'x17' shack to house the family, as well as other sheds to house animals. Further progress was made and in July 1900 a new home, 19'x42', was built.
Early in 1906, Andreas Christian became ill and after a struggle with stomach cancer, passed away on April 25 at the age of 57 years.
He is buried in the Moravian cemetery at Brüderheim. The inscription on his tombstone is from Matthew 24:35; "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away."
Note # 3 - Entries from the HOYLER DIARIES (1990) by Clement Hoyler, pastor of Brüderheim Moravian Church, 1896-1909. Written from Brüderfeld, SE of Edmonton...
1 February 1897 - ..."At 10 a.m., I went out to visit several families. From Ludwig Ebert's I drove to Carl Ebert's where I did not stay very long. I left dress material with them and requested (Mrs. Ebert) to sew dresses for the two younger Gabert sisters."
2 March 1897 - ..."In the evening Brother Gabert arrived from Brüderheim. He is looking for a wife, since he cannot cope with his children, who are mostly small."
3 March 1897 - ..."I went with Brother Gabert to Brother Drebert's. He was to go with Brother Gabert to visit Sister Hoppe to see if Sister Hoppe would consent to marry him."
13 April 1899 - ..."Visited Kittlitz's, where I had lunch and then went to Gabert's."
8 September 1899 - ..."Today I made a visit to John Schneider Jr. and Gabert's where only the children were at home."
Note # 4 - (G. Gabert, 2013)
Andreas and Luisa Gabert with their six children sailed from Liverpool, England, 3rd September 1896 on the S.S. MONGOLIAN (1891 Allan Line). They landed in Quebec City on the 12th of September and arrived in Edmonton 26th September 1896. The route to Liverpool from Volhynia passed through the port of Liepaja (Libau) Latvia, Russian Empire at the time.
Note # 5 - (G. Gabert, 2013)
Lutheran Parish of Gombin, (Gabin, 17 km S of Plock, Poland) was estabished in 1829. Theodore Kunzmann was Pastor from 1876-1921.