The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1894-11-21
kANsAs's MENNONITE COLONIES.
Russian Immigrants Who Are Industrious,
Prosperous, and Good Farmers.

The leaders of the Mennonite colony
near Newton, Kau., and of the one in
western Kansas are anxious to have the
public understand that they have no
part in the numerous emigrations from
that state to Russia. The thousands of
Russians now returning home are all of
the class known as peasants, and they
never were friendly toward the Men
nonites. In fact, the peasants fire.
quently assisted in the persecution of
the Mennonites until the latter were
practically exiled from their homes in
southern Russia. The Mennonites say
that these peasants never were success
full or even fairly prosperous in Russia,
and few if any of them would ever be-
come good citizens of the state were
they to stay. The Mennonites do not
conceal their satisfaction at seeing the
peasants return to their old Russian
homes.
Kansas now has two well-established
Mennonite colonies. The older was es-
tablished in 1870 and settled two years
later, and embraces a fine tract in the
northern part of Harvey county and
the southern part of Mcpherson county.
The other colony is near Hays City, in
Ellis county, where the Mennonites
have over 1000 acres of the finest
land in that section. They were driven
out of Russia few years ago, and could
not find a suitable tract of land for theil
colonization plan without going out in
to what is generally termed the arid
district of the state. The two colonie:
are very friendly and are closely allied
in all their interests and undertakings
The old colony, few years ago, begar
the erection in Newton, Kan, of col
lege, and while the western colony wa
too poor to assist very materially in tn,
work, each member did something t.
show personal interest in the institu
ton.
The members of the first colony re
fused to become citizens for severa
years, until they became fully satisfied
that the government would respec
their religious scruples against bearing
arms. They still refuse to vote excep
at school elections. They are total,
Indifferent as to what political part
controls the government so long as the,
are sure the country will escape al
kinds and forms of war.
They brought with them from thei
Russian homes many of their strang
customs. They brought all their house
hold utensils and their personal belong
} ings, and while most of them now hav
roomy, comfortable houses, they clini
tenaciously to all their queer traps
Their old costumes of skins are care
fully preserved and are not worn excep
on special occasions. Their first house
were built with double doors, but the
have dropped that style. They clin
to their old style bake ovens, and hav
baking day once week as in the oil
country.
While the ordinary Kansas farme
struggles along, dividing his time bt
tween running the farm and runnin
the country, and dividing his cash b.
tween the tax gatherer and the intere
collector, the Mennonite quietly pu
sues the even tenor of his way. Il
ploughs to plant, plants to grow crol
and is seldom disappointed, and whe
the crop is harvested he pays his tax'
: with what other farmers allow to go I
waste. In Newton to-day over on
half of the deposits in the banks al
owned by these thrifty Mennonite
They are happy in the thought thi
: they owe no man a dollar. It is pa
1 of their creed never to buy anythin
. for which they have not the cash
pay. Merchants say that the Mennol
ite is their best customer.
: One element of their success is the
< system of diversified farming. Whe
the chinch bug cuts the corn crop shor
!. they have good crop of wheat.
! cholera kills some of their hogs, the
have few sheep. lot of fat steers, al
: good young horse to sell. The
make it rule never to be forced to Sc
to poor market.