Als Antwort auf: Sofioka von Christian Wiede am 21. Februar 2004 06:54:31:

Howdy Christian,

My father was born in 1929 in a tiny village called Sofioka(or similar spelling).
He says nearby places are Roschiscte(?), or Alexandrovka(?). Do you have any
information on these places or where I might turn to for help?

For a help we are need little more informations about the region. Can you ask your father again? You can compare for example with an old map of West-Volhynia (designed from Mr. Lück in 1927): http://home.arcor.de/kobusz/indexdownload.htm ... please click on the link "Karte der deutschen Sprachinseln im zu Polen gehörenden Wolhynien". In the cell C4 you can read a former little village with the name "Sofjanowka", but with a cross. This mean, that the German settlers leaved this village and your father was born some years later in the village Sofioka. In Volhynia were 3 or 4 further villages with a similar name but not near of Roshischtsche.

We are researching the name Wiede and are having difficulty finding any answers.

If we are know the right home village, than we can search some hints to find the family persons. An other chance can be his emigration way. Are you know it? Or the year of his emigration? Can you tell us the names of his parents?

Is travel to these areas even possible?

A travel to this Ukrainian region is possible. For some experience you can ask Mr. Miller. He will start with his next Volhynian adventure tour May 3-17, 2004. Here is his short text about the next tour and his adress:

Visit the villages of your choice in Russian Volhynia, roughly from Zhitomir to Rozyszcze, in a small, intimate group limited to twelve. Discover your ancestral roots while experiencing the rich culture and warm hospitality of the Ukrainian people and colorful village life of your forefathers.

Donald N. Miller
12814 NW Bishop Road, Hillsboro,
OR 97124
Telephone (503) 647-5858
E-mail: dnmiller (at) whiz.to

Gerhard

Als Antwort auf: Sofioka von Christian Wiede am 21. Februar 2004 06:54:31:

Hi Christian,

on the same map Gerhard mentioned, you will find a Zofjowka in cell D3.
It's situated about 30 km east of Rozyscze, belonging to the Rozyscze Parish. On Jerry Franks map of Volynia, you will find it,too, and as well a place called Alexandrowka about 12 km southwest of Sofjowka. This place is not shown on the Lueck map but it is close to Alexandrija, a different village.

Regards

Margrit Weigel

Als Antwort auf: Sofioka von Christian Wiede am 21. Februar 2004 06:54:31:

Christian,
As Gerhard pointed out, you will need to provide more detail. What else do you know about the family? Names of grandparents? Dates of birth, date of marriage, even if you can only estimate it. Apart from your father, did they have other children? When did they leave for Germany? Canada? The United States? Did your grandparents apply for citizenship somewhere and if so, did you get a copy of their naturalization papers? If they never naturalized there may be an Alien Registration report. Do you have this? In short, it's good to let people know what you have.

"Roschiscte" is Rozyszcze / Roshischtsche in the Luzk district. It is located about 16 km north of Lutzk. Rozyszcze was also a parish, founded in 1862. Rozyszcze and Luzk are larger places that you can find using ShtetlSeeker with a search in Ukraine.

As for "Sofioka" and Alexandrovka, it may be difficult to resolve these places, in particular because Alexandrovka is a rather common place name. The Odessa Digital Library has a few entries for WIEDE in Sablotschitz, Julianow and Oljuka (Ulaniki?). These are places northwest of Lutsk. Guessing that your ancestors have settled in nearby villages I actually found Alexandrowka and Sofianowka within the same area but you will need to get more evidence if these are the villages you are looking for. Colony Alexandrovka was located about 4 km south of Sablotschitz and 13 km west of Lutsk. Colony Sofianowka was located about 6 km west of Lutsk. It is the one Gerhard mentioned. I have not found it on any topographical map but the 1906 gazetteer lists Sofianowka with 13 farms and 68 inhabitants.

For more help with research in this area, go to http://www.sggee.org.