Nikolai Martemjanovich Chukmaldin (1836-1901)

Nikolai Chukmalding was born in a farmer’s family in the Kukakovo village, not far from Tyumen. His life credo was to a major extent determined by unselfish service to people and to his native land. Chukmaldin wrote: ‘Those will get better off in business who render services to the society. The most precious commodity is confidence that results from trade honesty and unselfishness. An inventor and a pioneer of a new venture good for people will only get rich. Everything received through evil, unfairness, and selfishness contains death in itself. Good is only sound and vital.’

Chukmaldin facilitated a lot development of public education in Tyumen. He supported the Aid Society for students, and would institute three annual bonuses for research investigations of Tyumen. He also initiated a club for salesmen. Together with Ivan Slovtsov, Nikolai Chumaldin stood at the cradle of the Tyumen museum of local lore, history and economy. He donated to the museum his rare books collection and some other precious exhibits. Due to Chumaldin’s support the outstanding artist I. Kalganov and the publisher and photographer K. Vysotski got an opportunity to work in Tyumen. He also paid a lot of attention to his native Kulakovo village. Chukmaldin helped the farmers in case of crops failure or fire, would acquire agricultural tools. On his means a school with a workshop for wood-processing, and a library were built. He also built in Kulakovo a richly-decorated church. Over decades Chukmaldin had been paying cash to the farmers of his native village, so that pubs wouldn’t be opened in the village. Chukmaldin died abroad, but after his will was buried in Kulakovo.