From: Emmental, Bessarabia
2 February 1921
Worthy Staats-Anzeiger!
I am not a reader of the paper but I read it at my Uncle Zachaeus Kopp’s and I hope that soon my brother Rudolf in Fox Valley will have the paper sent to me.
Indeed, I will soon be drafted into the military service, since I was born in 1900. The last people drafted were born in 1899. So now my age group is next.
All winter long, we had nice weather with little frost and on and off a little snow. The roads were always passable so that one could drive with the wheels humming. If the road to Canada were that way I would have driven to see my brother a long time ago to ask him why he writes so little. I read that he and two other gentlemen traveled to Dakota. Hopefully, he had a good trip. I would also be happy if he would have the paper sent to me soon.
Johannes Seifert, son of Wendelin wants to get married, but the priest will not allow it since his mother is incarcerated. The priest says that he has to have permission from the bishop.
During the last few days we had strong storms, which toppled over straw and haystacks, and roofs were uncovered. There will be nice repairs.
We have enough hay, but it would be nice if someone from America would send us some dollars. That would be very pleasant especially for someone like me who will soon be going into military service where one needs 100 lei every month to live on.
On the 24th of the prior month, Alexander Plotzky was married to Nina Engel. Also Christian Boehler from Balmas and Agatha Gross were married, as well as Rosa Ritz and a young man from Balmas want to get married.
That is all for today. I’ll write more next time.
I send a friendly greeting to Rudolf and Joseph Kopp.
Jakob Kopp
Son of Thomas
From: Emmental, Bessarabia
17 February 1921
Worthy Editorship!
I read in the mailbox of Edition #53 that the letters written to me by Peter Thauberger have always been returned. The editorship had given him my correct address. If he writes the address exactly like it was listed, his letters should reach me. I have been waiting for a long time for a letter from him. I will go through great pains to forward a letter to his brother in Selz, South Russia. His brother is still in Selz as a temporary pastor. What will happen to him I just don’t know, probably it will be nothing good.
The snow we received recently as reported is still lying here. Most of the time it is gloomy and cold. Because of this weather we have a big problem with the rabbits. There are lots of them and they come into the village. Our hunters are doing a great job.
Stanislaus Wagner and his 3 dogs for example catch close to 8 to 12 rabbits daily and he earns up to 500 lei weekly selling the furs. He gives the meat away. A pelt if it isn’t torn costs 6 to 8 lei. There are also many hunters who hunt down more than 60 rabbits every day. Sometimes the police chase the hunters into the village, but they are not kept from going after the rabbits, even though they have to pay 10 lei for a ticket.
I am letting my old comrade Magnus Steinke know that his father and R. Gross are still in Krasna. They wanted to leave on the 8th of this month. Perhaps the big snowstorm hindered their departure. Supposedly, there is a lot more snow in Krasna than here. R. Nagel and S. Riehl already took off from here on 18 January. If they had a good journey they should be home already.
Mr. Karl Simpfendoerfer can’t get over a theft that happened on his old farm. No one here in Europe gets excited anymore over such trifle. One only tries to cover up and keep secret his sins and disgrace as good as one can. That is the fruit of Lenin and Trotzky’s seed. How much longer is God going to look down onto this wicked game without interfering like long ago in Sodom and Gomorrah?
I am greeting my old mother in Elardee and also my brother and Peter Thauberger. I hope to receive a letter from him soon.
Zachaeus Kopp
From: Prelate, Saskatchewan, Canada
25 February 1921
Worthy Staats-Anzeiger!
The weather is spring-like. The snow is gone and the green grass is coming up looking at mother sun. But I believe the “white linen sheet” will still come again. It is supposed to be the same way in Europe. From England to Rumania everything is green and with mild temperatures.
On 21 February, the gentlemen Simon Riehl and Nikolaus Engel returned from Rumania. They had been all the way to Krasna, Bessarabia where they visited their parents and siblings. They talked to just about everyone there and with many they drank a few liters of wine while talking about America. That just about everyone owns a car, the people doubt over there. I guess they have to come and take a look for themselves at the noble America.
The two other gentlemen Jakob Steinke and Romuald Gross stayed in Krasna 14 days longer. Mr. Gross will bring his old mother along, but it will probably be a miserable trip for the old lady, since the modes of transportation in Rumania and Serbia are very bad. The people have to force their way into the railway carriages. Some people also enter through the windows, which are all without glass. Some windows are scantily covered with paper or boards.
Simon Riehl wanted to also take his parents along, but now changed his mind, in order to save them from the wretched journey. Hopefully, the three prior mentioned travelers arrive here happily. They will not be getting along so well, since they can only speak the German language, and they cannot write or read it. Should they get lost in the wide world then please send them to Prelate, Sask., Canada.
(*Editor: You will get the calendar as asked for.)
In closing I greet my parents and siblings including their in-laws.
Melchior Gedak
From: Dodge, Dunn County, ND
4 March 1921
Worthy Staats-Anzeiger!
Once again I want to write in the paper something for my acquaintances and friends in Krasna.
All winter long we had nice weather. On 4 March, we received 6 inches of snow. That is very good, since the ground was very dry and in spring it would have been hard to plow. Hopefully we will get more moisture, which we can’t get enough of here in North Dakota.
I am asking Mr. Anton Gedak for information about my brother-in-law Anton Konogowski. I would like to send him the Staats-Anzeiger if he writes to me. Mr. Joachim Boot is being asked for information about Amalia Erker.
My wife died last winter on 16 February. She was the youngest daughter of Philipp Erker. I have gotten remarried. My wife is the daughter of Thomas Riehl Sr. I am asking Mr. Boot to say hello to Lorenz Riehl, who is now my uncle. In case he writes I will have the Staats-Anzeiger sent to him. He can get my address from Amalia Erker.
I am asking my comrades Rudolf Nagel and Kaspar Ruscheinsky for a sign of life.
I really love to read the reports in the Staats-Anzeiger, which has to be acknowledged as the best newspaper. We receive information in the Staats-Anzeiger from all over the world, and also there have been readers who through the paper have gotten in touch with the old homeland. The connection was interrupted by the World War.
Now I am greeting the families of Martin, Michael and Johannes Riehl, Jakob Baumann and Markus Brandtel in Canada. I want all of them to know that all of us are still healthy.
Respectfully,
Mathias Kuntz,
Son of Peter Kuntz
From: Maple Leaf, Corson County, ND
8 March 1921
Worthy Staats-Anzeiger!
The weather has been so nice for 3 weeks that we were able to work in the field already. But now winter is here once more. Like every year, this is a game and fight between winter and spring. But spring is going to win this game. If we don’t get another snow on top of this snow then we will be able to go to the field at the end of the week.
We feel sorry for the poor farmer who writes reports in the paper. His character must make him do it. We have nothing further to add to that. Enclosed is the money for my father-in-law and me. (*Editor: The calendars will be mailed to both of you.)
A friendly greeting to all relatives here and there.
Korbinian and Rosa Kahl