Gustav had an older half brother called Ludwig. Other siblings include Christian Jr. Julianna (1855-1879) and Charlotte (1858-1940). Gustav was the youngest child in the family being born in 1865.
Their parents, Christian Werner and Regina Polnau lived in Januszew, located approximately half way between Borki and Wilkow, along the Vistula River and seven miles east of the Ilow parish.
It is believed that Christian Jr remained in the Januszew area, married Maria Seidel and had children Lydia (b.1886), Emil (b.1889), Gusta (b.1892), Rudolph (b.1895), Herman (b.1898), Waldemar (b.1901), Gustav (b.1904) and Edmund (b.1906). In 1909, this family moved from their rented house to their newly built farm home. This home was built by Christian Jr. with iron ore and mortar. Around 1916, Waldemar was caught trying to evade the army draft. He was held in Warsaw until 1921 when his release from prison was negotiated. Shortly after Waldemar's release, Christian Jr. and family made their way to North America, initially traveling to the Bruderheim area. The book “For His Names Sake”, written by Noma Werner provides insight into the Christian Jr. family.
Charlotte’s life was closely intertwined with Gustav’s. It appears that they always lived in close proximity to each other. In Volhynia, she married Wilhelm Ruttar and had three children, Augusta, Alwina, and Emilie before Wilhelm’s death. After immigrating to Canada at the same time as her brother Gustav, she homesteaded in the Bruderheim area on NW24 54 21 W4. After her daughters married, Charlotte took up residence in a small house on Gustav’s farmyard. She did marry in Canada but the marriage did not last.
Very little is known about the half siblings of Eva Eichelt. If you can provide additional information for any of the siblings or half siblings of either Gustav or Eva please email webmaster@haimila.ca
