From: Konstantinofka, Bessarabia
2 November 1913
On 29 October, I arrived from the far away North Bessarabia in Taraklia at my family’s house and found all of them healthy, but had to find out from my wife and children that they no longer wanted to stay in Taraklia. They wanted to move to Konstantinofka near Emmental in the hopes of finding better jobs as blacksmith and shoemaker.
The remainder of the letter is unimportant up until one paragraph on the back page.
I am greeting my colleague Anton Jochim. I am now living in my new home in Konstantinofka, but for how long I can’t say right now. My employers in Makarofka hated to see me leave but due to certain conditions, like my son going into active duty on 10 November, they were unable to stop me. In answer to your question in #14 of the paper, I can tell you that a teacher in the village, who is certified by the ministry, earns 300 to 500 rubles including lodging, heating and electricity.
Where father Nikolaus Ibach is buried I won’t be able to tell you until my next report.
Romuald Dirk
From: Schaller, Morton County, ND
26 November 1913
I would like to ask my brother in Krasna, South Russia not to be so lazy about writing. I ordered the newspaper for him so that he may give a sign of life about himself once in a while. I also would like to know how he likes the Staats-Anzeiger.
Mr. Ludwig Stroh in Kandel, South Russia is looking for the address of Martin Heinz. His address is Stebbins, Morton County, North Dakota.
A friendly hello to mom and brother-in-law, and Heinrich Winter and family in Krasna, South Russia as well as to my friends M. Müller and A. Müller in Canada.
Emanuel Tischmak