Skip to main content

VGI Updates

Spahn (Schwed)

Felix [sic] Spahn was born approximately 1787 in the German village of Lautlingen.

He served as an infantryman in the Musketeer Regiment of Napoleon's Army and fought against the Russians. He was captured by the Russians.

Milovidov records that as of 1814, his mother, brother, and sister were still living in Lautlingen.

He was settled in the Volga German colony of Schwed and assigned to the household of Jakob Burghardt.

Philipp Spahn and his family are recorded on the 1834 census of Schwed in Household No. 32.

Kelln, Albert Lee

Two-Star Rear Admiral Albert Lee "Al" Kelln, son of David Kelln & Eva Margaretha Katharina Meier, was born 17 December 1929 in Shattuck, Oklahoma. He died on 17 October 2022 in Ballinger, Texas. He was buried in the U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery in Annapolis, Maryland.

Rear Admiral Kelln graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1952 and served for 28 years in the U.S. Navy, many as commander of nuclear submarines. He founded the Naval Submarine League and served as its president for many years.

Mattias (Katharinenstadt)*

Peter Mattias was born in approximately 1779 in Hannover.

He was a soldier with the French Uhlan Regiment of Napoleon's Army and fought against the Russians. He was captured by the Russians.

Milovidov records that as of 1814, his father, mother, brother, and sister were still living in the town of Hannover.

He was settled in the Volga German colony of Katharinenstadt in the household of Kornelius Duxberg.

Milovidov records that Peter Mattias came from the German village of Hannover.

Bertebo*

Bertano Bertebo was born about 1786 in France.

He was an infantry soldier with Napoleon's Army. He fought against the Russians and was captured.

Milovidov records that as of 1814 his mother, two brothers, and three sisters were still living in the town of Vittelfranca.

He was settled in the Volga German colony of Ober-Monjou in the household of Johannes Rupp.

Milovidov records that Bertano Bertebo came from the French town of Vittelfranca.

Three are no known surviving male lines of this Bertebo family among the Volga German colonies.