Sallet reports that the first Volga German immigrants arrived in Sheboygan in 1892 from the colony of Reinwald. By 1930, there were 550 families living there, among them 230 from Reinwald and 170 from Schäfer.
Most of the earliest Volga German immigrants to Sheboygan worked in the factories of Polarware, Vollrath, Garton Toy Company, Hand Knit Hosiery Company, American Chair, Crocker Chair, Northern Furniture, Phoenix Chair, and Dillingham Manufacturing. Many also worked in the nearby village of Kohler for the Kohler Company.
During the spring and summer months, many Volga German families migrated to Racine and Kenosha or even to Michigan and Minnesota to work in the sugar beet fields.
The Sheboygan Press reports in 1942 that between 5,000 and 6,000 Volga Germans were living in Sheboygan.
- "Celebrating 250 Years of Volga German History." Exhibit of the Sheboygan County Historical Research Center. (online)
- Dippel, Beth. "Immigrants' Journey from Germany to Russia to Sheboygan." Sheboygan Press (22 July 2016). (online)
- Dippel, Beth. "Volga Settlers Found their Footing in Sheboygan." Sheboygan Press (5 August 2016). (online)
- Ertel, Ronald J. Extract of Volga Germans from the Naturalization Applications of Volga Germans in Sheboygan (1973) (online)
- Ertel, Ronald J. "Germans from Russia Who Settled in Sheboygan Wisconsin Area and Earned their Citizenship." Clues of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia (1979, pt.2): 37-48.
- "Patriotic Celebration Is A Big Event For Organization." The Sheboygan (Wisc.) Press (22 June 1942): 10.
- Sallet, Richard. Russian-German Settlement in the United States (Fargo, ND: North Dakota Institute for Regional Studies, 1974): 55.
- USA Settlement List (Patricia Miller)
- Lutheran Cemetery (FindAGrave)
- Wildwood Cemetery (FindAGrave)
- Sheboygan, Wisconsin (Wikipedia)
Colonies
N. Eighth Street (ca.1909), Sheboygan, Wisconsin.
Source: Scott Lewandoske