1849 Old Letter

LETTER

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 11/8/2010 at 09:59:17

Old Letter Gives Insight On Why Pioneers Sought America

The following is a translation of a letter, in German, in the archives of the Muskingum County, Ohio, Genealogical Society.

The letter, dated May 13, 1849, was found by Mrs. Kenneth Yinger, of Zanesville, Ohio, among some newspapers being gathered for a paper drive.

In it the writer, Johann Adam Weber, gives us an insight into the tension and anxiety and heartache endured by the German people in the mid-1800s, and explains why our ancestors migrated to America.

Our thanks to H. Calvin Knock of Ohio University, Zanesville, for furnishing us with a copy of the letter. Mr. Knock's grandfather, Harm E. Knock, came to the United States about this time, and settled with his family in Colfax township, Grundy county.

Errlich, May 13, 1849

Dearly loved son Peter and your dearest (word torn away)

I received your letter of March 13th as well as the letter from Mr. Schulte to the gardener and the letter to Mr. Hellmut of March 2nd. I received Mr. Hellmut's letter of March 11th to me on March 14th with such joy that the tears rolled from your mother's eyes, joy because you all wished so much to see us in America again.

But, dear son, our joy has been changed to sorrow, as directly upon receipt of your letter I went to the court in order to arrange the action, which took place on May 4th, but the auction came out badly because very few were present. Johann Fuchs made a bid of 200 Thaler on the house. Otherwise there was no one who wanted to bid, so I canceled the auction; the gardens have admirers enough, but what good is that, the house up for 200 Thaler, as it brings me a rental of 21 Thaler a year. Besides, the court has fixed my war tax at 47 Thaler 22 Silbergroschen, which I should have to leave behind.

I owe on the house, as you know, 160 Thaler, and the war tax, which would mean that I would have to leave behind 207 Thaler 22 Silbergroschen. You can figure out for yourself that I cannot leave with my fortune with out help from you or my well-intentioned friend, Mr. Schulte.

We were very happy over your childish wish to embrace us once more in order to live happily, but it seems to me that is is God's will that we shall never see each other again, like the children of Israel who were shown the promised land but never entered it, it seems that we will never be saved from this vale of tears unless means are found. This can be accomplished by Mr. Schulte and your sister-in-law, if they mean well. We are convinced that H. Schulte meant well for us, according to your letter that I should use the 135 Thaler in possession of Mr. Hellmut for the journey for which I and my wife wish to express our heartfelt thanks.

Now, dear son, I must tell you that Mr. Hellmut made the trip to Mr. Schulte's brother to get the money. Mr. Hellmut told me that he received no cash from Mr. Schulte's brother but notes on the brotherhood at Neuwied. The brother hood would have only given him more notes (words town away) and that is the reason I could not count on the money which I was supposed to use to the trip. Our journey to America was fixed for the 23rd of this month with Mr. Hellmut, Franz Dames of the new church and Vogel and a boy from Westfalia, but all at once things were quite different. Mr. Hellmust will not leave the congregation until he finds someone to take his place with whom they will be satisfied. Franz Dames leaves the 19th of this month from here, and does not want to delay any longer. He has his papers and the way things look, with the threats of war, he is right. Vogel wants to wait until fall until we have had word from you, he also cannot get his money together without considerable lose. Franz Dames will take this letter personally or will mail it for he does not know where his fellow travelers will land, but he intends to make the trip to you. I should like to send what you requested of me along with him, but as it is uncertain that Franz Dames will come to you I shall not send them now, such as lettuce seeds, radish seeds and also cauliflower seeds and the plaster you wanted. I would have had a musical mass copies, 4 voiced, costing 2 Thaler. A new German song book, 4 voiced, with organ costs 20 Silbergroschen. We have new music now which is wonderful, which I could have brought along. Now we must see how things will go until fall. Your mother's suffering that we cannot emigrate now I cannot describe to you. I must also tell you that since the day the auction was canceled, your mother has not been well. Furthermore, your brother Fritz has had a cold fever since March 3rd which was so bad the other day that your mother cried over him. It is terrible to see how awful this illness is.

Last fall he came form the ship in Holland and brought the fever home and had it until the middle of February. You can imagine that this did cost me not a little money and then no earnings, as there is no demand for music at present. Concerts can only be held five times a year now. One wants and must live. I do not know where this will end. If I were to write you all the news I should have to have 4 sheets of paper. Bread is not dear here, a 7 lb. rye bread costs 4 Silbergroschen, a pound of meat 3 silbg., a pound of butter 7 silbg., other products are cheap; but what good is that with no income. The poorer classes must arm themselves, to murder and to steal, if they don't want to starve. I don't know how to keep my small household going. It will not be long before a general civil war will break out. That is certain. The king will not compromise. Everywhere is revolution. In Duesseldorf and Krefeld the reserves got their uniforms and say now that they are boss; they have taken sides with the populace. They broke the line at night and many citizens and soldiers remained. Four Prussian officers were killed.

The democrats have ordered that everyone arm himself with guns, sabers, and such instruments; the day the Hungarians enter Vienna a red flag will be hung from all church steeples in Germany and each man will take up his arms. The reserves were called up on the 3rd of this month and the loyalists are still in Neuwied.

Your brother Fritz was also drafted but was with Herman Termel in Holland. He was declared "absent". In the general mustering he was not here either, but he was not called. Only two were chosen from Errlich. Your brother Fritz is so scared of military duty that he wanted to go on the journey with Mr. Hellmut. When he heard that Mr. Hellmut did not get any cash from Mr. Schulte's brother he was downcast and cried bitterly. I cannot describe how he longs for you.

I must tell you that Fritz said if we were all with you he would like to earn money. If you or Mr. Schulte or your sister-in-law could rescue us from this vale of tears we should be very appreciative. If I had enough money for the journey, I would rent my house, for I can get 35 Thaler rent per year. I would put it in the hands of an agent until such time as I could sell it and the money could be sent to America. (Words torn away) so save us from the danger which now threatens Germany.

Write us immediately if you can save us by fall or not.

We greet you all, brother and sister, Herr Schulte, and your sister-in-law, regards from Vogel, friends and acquaintances.

Johann Adam Weber

--Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 2 November 1978