According to a note that was written by daughter Meta, Hulda was born at Seethal, which is Kreis Wirsitz, Province Posen, on 21 February, 1884. At that time, this was a part of Prussia. Hulda was baptized in the Lutheran Church of Seethal Germany, and was confirmed on April 3, 1898 at Labseda, near Seethal within the province of Posen.


Hulda emigrated from Germany in 1903 with her parents and sister Otillie. She arrived in the Port of Baltimore on January 1 1903 on the Steamship Karlsruhe, and left from Bremen on December 18 1902. She listed her last residence as Debenka Germany, which is in Kreis Wirsitz in Posen (now Poland). Her age was listed as 18 and her occupation was listed as "Servant Girl". The passenger list also said she and Otillie had a ticket to their destination which was listed as "Freystadt Missouri". Both Hulda and Otillie could read and write. They had $5.60 in cash in thier possession. They were joining their brother Emil Rusch inFreistatt.

According to a 1997 note written by Vera (nee Kleiboeker) Kruse:"Hulda and her parents, David and Louise Rusch, lived in a home in Freistatt that is still standing. Mother (Hulda) worked for the Scheldrup's, owners of Scheldrup Drug Store in Pierce City MO. She worked there for approximately 5 years as a maid." Freistatt young people would meet at Freistatt on Sunday evenings for playing ........(note is no longer readable at this point).

A note written by Vera (Kleiboeker) Kruse in October 1977:

"Mother told us (Hulda’s children) a very sorrowful heart breaking incident which always made us cry and feel terrible, but after a while we would ask her to tell it again. There was a lady named "Lydia" who had become very ill from goiter on the long voyage of 2 months+. It became necessary that the goiter be removed in order to try to save her life. However, they had no anesthetics. So they had to hold her down thru the surgery and her screams could be heard by many on the ship. She did not survive, but then
to hear mother tell that her body was then thrown over-board into the ocean - we thought was the cruelest, meanest, most horrible thing ever. We would ask a lot of whys. Mother said there were also others whose bodies were buried in the ocean."

Alvin, another of Hulda’s children related the following about his remembrences of his mother’s voyage to America:

“My mother Hulda traveled to America from Germany with her parents, David and Louise Rusch and her sister Otillie arriving in America on January 1 1903. Two brothers, Emil and Fred Rusch had come to America earlier, worked and sent money for David, Louise, Hulda and Otillie to come to America too. Another sister, Auguste, also came from Germany to America. Two brothers, Theodore and August stayed in Germany. One night during their steamship trip to America, the weather was very stormy. The shipmaster was fearful another ship would hit them, so whistles were blown every two minutes to warn other ships of their location. Mother said a beautiful girl was on the ship with them, and that the ship’s crew said she had a rare disease. The girl was quarantined and then later buried at sea.

“Once they arrived in Baltimore (Alvin thought it was New York) they traveled by train to Verona MO where Emil Rusch met his parents and sisters. The living conidtions they saw deteriorated the farther they got from St. Louis. Many of the houses they saw were just shanties. Hulda said she was ready to turn around and go back to Germany if this was what living in America was like even though the whole family wore wooden shoes in Germany.

In checking the Ship’s passenger list in 2008, the following was found: the voyage lasted only 2 weeks, not 2 months (see above). There was only one death listed on the ship’s passenger list. That was coincidentally on the same page as Hulda and Otillie’s entry. There were 30 pages of passenger lists, and on Hulda’s there was an entry for Emma Plichte. Emma was 29 and traveling with a sister by the name of Otillie Brauer, 31. It stated that Emma was married but there is no identifiable spouse on the list. The list also stated that Emma "died on the 26th of December, an inflammation of the lungs". Sadder still Emma was traveling with her 5 year old son Max. Vera and Alvin may not have got the story completely correct, but I am sure the death of a fellow passenger on the day after Christmas must have made a big impact on Hulda, who was only 18 at the time.

Vera continues:
"My mother (Hulda) was the youngest of a family of 6 (I think). Her older brothers came to America to avoid compulsory military conscription in Germany at the age of 18. After several years in America, they earned enough money to send for their parents and my mother, who was 18. Mother and her parents traveled by ship. I’m sure Mother and her parents expected to find a better livelihood then continuously working for a landlord - Grandpa Rusch (David) herding sheep and the women folks working with grain - cutting it by hand and when dry, threshing it with branches from trees to obtain the grain. Also mother would tell about harvesting sugar beets - pulling them out of the ground. Because of the density in population, not an inch of soil was wasted. They were very good gardeners with food for the table and beautiful flowers around their dwellings. Even in 1902 America was considered the land of plenty. I’m sure mother wasn’t disappointed. However she worked very hard all her life. Many young girls worked as maids for the rich. Mother worked for the Scheldrup’s, owners of the Scheldrup’s Drug Store in Pierce City. She worked for them approximately 5 years until she was married in 1907."

According to a 1997 note written by Vera (nee Kleiboeker) Kruse: "Hulda and her parents, David and Louise Rusch, lived in a home in Freistatt that is still standing. Mother (Hulda) worked for the Scheldrup’s, owners of Scheldrup Drug Store in Pierce City MO. She worked there for approximately 5 years as a maid." Mother and Dad met at a young folks outdoor gathering. Freistatt young people would meet at Freistatt on Sunday evenings for playing out door games, such as “London Bridges Falling down” and some German games Mother was 23 years and Dad 28.




Hulda's Obituary (From Parish Caller Supplement for July 20, 1952):

"Hulda Helene Rusch Kleiboeker was born Feb 21 1884, in Seethal, OstPreussen, Germany where she was also baptized, and confirmed in the Lutheran Church. In 1902, at the age of 18, she came with her parents to this country, after which she spent the remainder of her life in the Freistatt community. On Feb 10, 1907, she was united in marriage with August Kleiboker. This union was blessed with ten children, of whom one son, Hubert, preceeded her in death while giving his life inthe service of his country in action in World War II, on March 151945. The other children are Martin, Alvin, and Lorn all living inthis community. Elda, now Mrs. Alvin Haunschild of Kansas City; Leona,who is at home, Meta now Mrs. Victor Burkholder of Carthage, Vera of Kansas City, Lorene, now Mrs. Melvin Buescher of Portland, Oregon; and Evelyn now Mrs. Harold Schnelle of Lockwood, MO. Besides her children she leaves to mourn her departure, her husband, Mr. August Kleiboeker; Two daughters in law; four sons-in-law; one sister, Mrs. Otillie Schiebel of Jackson MN; two brothers, Emil Rusch of Hoberg MO and Theodore Rusch in Germany; nine Grandchildren, several nephews and nieces and a host of other relatives and friends. Mrs. Kleiboeker wasa life long member of the Trinity Ladies Aid and a charter member of the Freistatt American Legion auxilliary. She fell asleep in Jesus on July 10 1952, after a very brief illness, the immediate cause of her death being heart failure. She attained the age of 68 years, 4 months and 19 days. Burial services were held on Monday July 14 interment being made in the Church cemetery. The Pastor's sermon was based on Hebrews 4:9, "There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God." The family wishes to thank all for their words and deeds of kindnessin thier bereavement. A list of the Memorial Wreaths will follow in a later parish caller."

In a 2006 discussion with Olga Worm (nee Rusch), Olga stated that the Rusch grand parents (David and Louise Rusch) all had diabetes. Olga states “There were at least 7 children including Lorn’s mother (Hulda) who we know was diabetic.”

Marriage
Date: 10 FEB 1907
Place: , Freistatt, Lawrence Co, MO