Try this: library.ndsu.edu/grhc/history/reasons_emigration.htm
Read the whole article. Don't know if this is your family but the places fit. I hope this is a start to what you might be looking for anyway. By the way my grandfather's name was Jacob Veer (Fehr). He was born and died in North Dakota but his parents were from Russia. I don't know of any connection between us though. But interesting nevertheless. Barb