The Hellers and others come from Burgenland to Columbus Township, Anoka County Minnesota

Many of the Burgenlanders who settled in Columbus Township, Anoka County, Minnesota, came from a small cluster of villages on the North East side of Lake Neusiedl.  

The families included Schotls from Monchhof, Altenburgers from Podersdorf,  Kreishitz/Kreitzs from Deutsch Jahrdorf,  Groess from Halbturn; Hellers from Halbturn; Thurnbecks from St. Andras and more.  I previously published a blog about Burgenland with information about the individual villages and the spread-sheet that Shan created, "People we think are Burgenlanders in Columbus Township"  (see that spread-sheet and blog here) 

Frauenkirchen, Church of Maria auf der Heide

To get an idea of the size of the area, the distance from Frauenkirchen to Halbturn is 6 km.; to Podersdorf 7.9 km. to Monchhof 5.6 km.; to Tadten 11.2 km.  

We know that Anton Heller was  born in Halbturn, Burgenland  in 1851.  He married Maria Hershelder in 1877, when he was 26 years old.  Together with children Joseph Mary, and Katherine they sailed on the ship Zaandam which departed from Amsterdam, on April 24, 1886. 

It appears that they went directly to Columbus Township, Anoka County, Minnesota.  At the time of the 1900 Federal Census, they were living on their farm with their 3 children; Joseph, Mary, and Katherine.    


In the 1905  State Census, Anton, Maria and their daughter Katherine were still living on the farm. Son, Joseph and daughter-in-law, Marie Lunzer lived on the next farm where they also farmed 80 acres.

Columbus Township,  Anoka County,  MN 1914

At the time of the 1910 Federal Census, Anton, Marie and their daughter, Katherine lived on the family farm on Holl and Nolz Road. Anton and Marie had 9 children only 3 of whom survived.

Anton died at age 63, and is buried in Calvary Cemetery, Forest Lake, Washington County. The Find A Grave Memorial# is 132145281

Mary survived him by 13 years.  She moved in with her son Joseph and daughter-in-law Mary.  We find her there in the 1920 Federal Census. 

Mary died in 1927 at age 70 and was buried next to Anton in Calvary Cemetery, Forest Lake. The Find A Grave Memorial # is 132145263.


Shan pointed out that the two 40 acre parcels on the left side, of what was called Schotl Road in the 1910 Federal Census, were owned by Math Schotl (blue highlight).  The two 80 acre parcels on the right side of the road had been the original Heller farms owned by Anton and Joseph Heller.