Dreispitz Khutor
As early as 1865, Dreispitz was experiencing the effects of population explosion. The leaders of Dreispitz sought areas where families could resettle. A baron with lands on the east side of the Volga, about fifty versts southeast of Dreispitz was contacted and he agreed to lease lands to people of Dreispitz under 25-year contracts. This area was called Baronofke, after the baron of owned the land. The German settlers called the village by various names, Dreispitz Khutor, Khutor Baranov and Baranoff.
The resettlement leader was Johann David Mueller, (b.1848), the son of Frederich Phillipp Mueller, (1825-1892), and Anna Elizabeth Klein (1829-1915). Frederich and Anna were married in 1847 and lived in Dreispitz. Johann David Mueller was married in 1869 to Julianna Socolowsky, (b.1850). Their first two children, Anna Elisabeth and Marie Catharina, were born in Dreispitz. Their third child Julianna was born (b. 1883) in Dreispitz Khutor. Of this family, Anna Elizabeth (1872-1924) married Friedrich Betz, (b.1859), and emigrated from Russia to the United States.
Johann David Schulz (1846-1895) was also one of the founding fathers. Johann married Catharina Elisabeth Rupp (b.1845) in 1865. Their first two children, Catharine Elisabeth (b.1867) and David (b.1869) were born in Dreispitz. Their third child, Andreas (b.1871) is the first child known to be born in Dreispitz Khutor. In 1895, Andreas married Susanna Metzler (b.1876) of Dobrinka. They had four children: Andreas (b.1896), Marie or Amalie (b.1897), Lydia (b.1894) and David (b.1898). The Andreas Schulz family emigrated to Argentina, year unknown.
Each family in Dreispitz Khutor had one-half to one block of land on which they lived. The fields were in various plots three to five versts from town. The plots were divided so that each family had some good rich ground and some poorer ground. Oxen, horses and camels pulled the crude machinery. Often six animals were used to pull the plow that broke the sod. Turkey wheat, Russian wheat, corn, barley and oats were grown. Grain was hauled to the outskirts of town and piled in stacks to be threshed. In town, the families built their own buildings, cultivated gardens and kept their animals and machinery.
The houses, called mud huts, were made of a straw and mud mixture. Dirt, straw and water were mixed together, kneaded and pressed into a two-block mold. They were whitewashed with a white clay and water mixture. This was a very clean-looking town as all the buildings were white. There was usually a summer house which adjoined the house. There was an opening between the two to the stove. In the summertime the meals were eaten in the summer house. There were also a barn, a chicken house and a cellar. The cellar was dug about eight feet deep and eight feet square. Along the sides, holes were dug to hold barrels of supplies such as kraut, potatoes, cooked butter and cheese. Boards, straw and dirt made the roof.
Mr. Christian Kerbs of Russell, Kansas, remembers visiting Dreispitz Khutor in 1910 with his parents. The village had a population of 300-350. Kerbs visited Gottfried Steinert, a brother to Christ's mother.
In 1917, the Bolsheviks harrassment was particularly severe in Dreispitz Khutor. Dave Miller relates that many of the wealthy were stripped of their property and deported or killed. Johnn David Mueller was Dave's grandfather. Finally, the Bolsheviks looked for Dave, and Dave and a friend had to flee for their lives. Dreispitz Khutor was still in existence in 1919 when Dave's parents were able to get out and return to Dreispitz. Today, this village is not listed on maps of the Volga region.
The following are known to have lived in Dreispitz Khutor: Beisel, Dick, Ehrlich, Feil, Fritzler, Galliart, Heffel, Heinze, Herbel, Keller, Krant, Kraut, Kuxhaus, Laenhart (school teacher), Meier, Melser, Metzler, Miller, Mueller, Renz, Reuz (school teacher), Riffle, Rubel, Ruddat, Rudolf, Ruff, Rutz, Schmitt, Schuckmann, Schultz, Schwind, Sokolofsky, Steinert, Steinle, Stuertz, Wolf, Wuenser.