From: Emmental, Bessarabia
9 January 1927
Dear Staats-Anzeiger!
The weather is just like the farmer wants it. On 6 January, one foot of snow fell onto the ground that was not frozen, which is especially good for the winter wheat.
The following couples were announced in church to be married: Ludwig Gross, son of Johannes from Krasna will marry Katharina Gross, daughter of Rochus. The wedding of this couple will take place tomorrow 10 January. Anton Loeb, son of Anton will marry Elisabetha Seifert, daughter of Wendelin on 24 January, and then there was also the announcement that Joseph Nagel, son of Jakob will marry Zelestina Loeb, daughter of Zelestinus on 24 January.
Kaspar Seifert was hired as sexton for another year. He will receive 400 lei per month and is relieved of all forced labor. Rochus Maas was elected as herdsman and Rochus Paul as treasurer. Other than that there were no changes in the village administration.
Joseph Paul is asking his brother-in-law Eugidius Volk to order the Staats-Anzeiger for him. Futhermore, Eugenius Seifert is asking his brother Peter Seifert to have the Staats-Anzeiger sent to him.
Joseph Seifert and Joseph Reis are on the sick list. Both of them are seriously ill.
I just now heard that Joseph Reis has passed away.
Now I am greeting all the readers and the editor Mr. Brandt.
Adam Seifert
From: Krasna, Bessarabia
16 January 1927
Worthy Staats-Anzeiger!
For several days now winter has displayed all its’ might. On the first day of Christ, the temperature was 14 degrees. But on “Johannestag” (St. John’s) the temperature went down to 7 degrees. The weather is quite variable. Today it has been raining all day.
The health conditions leave much to be desired. There are different diseases among the children. Also there are several people sick with typhoid in the village. Adam Bachmeier’s wife has died from this disease. She was the daughter of Franz Dirk. The 17-year-old daughter of Gabriel Gedak also died from typhoid. The wedding bells have been ringing here loudly recently. Two weddings have already occurred and five more will be forthcoming.
Recently, the price of barley went up slightly, that is from 60 lei to 75 lei per pud (1 pud = 16.38 kg).
We inform Mr. Joseph Foeth in Brazil that we love to read his reports in the Staats-Anzeiger, because we also have friends in Brazil. Sorry to say that we do not get any mail from them. Just a while ago I read a report from Joseph Foeth in the Staats-Anzeiger Edition #36, that my brother Christoph Nagel is still alive. Christoph also had asked for the addresses of all the friends in America. Further, he had asked the friends to send him the Staats-Anzeiger. This wish should not be too hard to fulfill by the Americans.
I also read a report by Alexius Fenrich. He stated that they want to resettle from the state Soa Paulo to the state Rio Grande do Sul. There they can work with the cultivation of grain. I would like to ask the gentlemen Foeth and Alexius Fenrich to write in the Staats-Anzeiger more often from that area.
I want to inform my nephew Michael Nagel, son of Johannes, that I have not yet received the $27, which he had mailed to me in February 1926. I am asking to please inquire and find out what has happened to the money. I also ask him to please write to me. In 12 years I have not received a letter from him. I also want to encourage my other friends in America to write more often. We are very curious to hear something about the golden America.
With the exception of winter wheat, the harvest last year was very good. We had an especially rich harvest of Welsh corn.
Otherwise, there is no other important news to report from here with one exception. A train station is supposed to be built behind the large bridge on the eastside of the village. That will be very advantageous for us.
At the beginning of February, the young recruits from here will have to report for military duty. One of my sons is also among them. My other son will become a soldier next year.
Thomas Leintz, son of Anton, is hereby informed that his belongings in Krasna have not yet disappeared. Just write diligently and demand your belongings.
I send a greeting to C. J. Haag assistant editor of the Staats-Anzeiger. It is requested that he should write once again.
In closing, I greet the editor Mr. Brandt and all readers.
Viktor Nagel,
Son of Alexander