Ancestry project

Galicia

Winnipeg

When the family arrived in Canada, they went to claim their chest, and found it missing.

When they arrived in Winnipeg the Canada Settlers Loan and Trust Company granted them a loan of $400. This was to help settlers get started, but had to be repaid.

With the money the family bought simple essentials, such as flour, cotten bags and farming equipment. They then boarded the train and travelled to Langenburg, SK.

Langenburg

Daniel and Anna had ten children in total. All the children were taught to read, write, and do simple math in German.

Jacob Dressler was my great, great, grandfather and the oldest of the children.

Jacob received a homestead and built a log house for his bride. The couple had their first child, Adele (known as Della) on April 2 1904. This was my great grandmother. Over the next four years three more children came along; Alvina, Hilda and Adolf. The family lived a typical country lifestyle, and Adele goes over the events of her childhood in the family book; Everything from the games of her childhood to he first school to the excitement of the first family telephone.

Summary

To what extent had globalization shaped your family's identity?

I found the information I learned about my family, to be valuable. I learned more about a side of my family I didn't really know about. Talking with my grandma was great, she had tons of stories and was very helpful. I got most of my information form the family book, which also had a lot of stories.

This project has made me appreciate my life as it is now. Being in Canada is a great privilage, and knowing some of the hardships endured makes life seem so much easier by comparison.

There are several traditional recipes my grandma uses regularly originally used by my ancestors. This is just one example of how diverse a place Canada is; Without globalization, Canada would not be the place we know today. Many people call Canada home, and with them comes their personal traditions and culture. My family left to look for a better life like many other families, and although they endured many hardships, they have helped shape Canada as much as Canada shaped them.

My family is German, and they happened to leave Landestreau before both WW's. A lot of Germans who remained in Landestreau were persecuted, and much of the town was destroyed. Canada allowed them to live a better life without persecution because of their nationality.

Adele Dressler and Fred Haberstock

Adele and Fred met as teenagers, when Fred began to work for Adele's father.

The couple married on December 10, 1922. The couple had 11 children, and my grandma Gertie was the eighth born in September 27 1933. Due to hard times, the family moved to the US for awhile, but eventually came back to Langenburg.

1897

1891-1893

Jacob Dressler

May, 1890

These years were hard for the family. Drought was severe and there was a lack of food. Due to the drought there were many fires around the area. A lack of lumber didnt allow the family to build a better house.

Settle into the homestead. A temporary dug out house was built and 3 acres of prarie was plowed. The next year a more permanent clay house was built and 4 more acres plowed.

Title to the land was secured. A new, large clay house was built, as the family now had seven children.

On June 24, 1903, Jacob married Johanna Becker, the ukrainian dauhter of a nearby family. Johanna was 18 and Jacob was 21.

The couple had fourteen children in total, with only thirteen surviving. They all go on to have their own families

Their chest, containing all their belongings, was lost.

Landestreu, Galicia

Daniel Dressler

In 1888 when land agents came to Galicia, the couple made plans to leave for Canada. They packed all their belongings in a large wooden chest, and slowly sold off the rest or simply left it behind.

Born in 1855 to John Dressler and Dorthea Gerhart. Daniel was the first born son of the couple. Daniel had four siblings; Brothers Christian, John, George and sister Elinor.

In 1890 they packed up and left with their children for Canada.

In 1880 Daniel married Anna Busch, and over the next eight years had four children: Jacob, Fred, Nettie and Andrew.

The Dressler Family