Letter to Editor: Krasna, Bessarabia
29 October 1928
Dear Editor:
I wish you great success with the paper and many new subscribers.
It rained here on October 17 and 18 and the farmers were very busy sowing. They averaged a desjatine per farmer. The rain penetrated the soil only to a depth of 1½ inches, and then the south wind came and dried out the soil. We are back to square one. All is in the hands of God; it is our refuge.
The paper still arrives on time, but there were not the usual number of reports. I was sick myself and apologize for not writing more. I am well now.
Death List: Marianna Beker [Becker], wife of Georg Beker [Becker]. She leaves behind her husband and a child.
Rudolf Boot leaves behind his wife and 3 children.
Barbara Ternes nee Müller, wife of Aloysius J. Ternes, leaves behind her husband and three children.
Johannes Dirk Sr. leaves behind a wife, three married and two unmarried children.
In June: Rosina Herschaft nee Ruscheinsky, age 92, the oldest woman in Krasna, left behind children and grandchildren.
In July: Regina Wingenbach nee Müller, wife of Bernhard Wingenbach, leaves behind her husband and one child.
Magdalena Harsche nee Engel, daughter of the late Karl Harsche, leaves behind a son and a daughter, both married.
In August: Marianna Arnold nee Kahl, wife of Jakob Arnold, leaves behind her husband, children and grandchildren.
Maximilian Hein, the former custodian, leaves behind his wife and seven children, five married, two unwed.
Gottfried Moldenhauer leaves behind a wife and 3 children.
Theresia Fenrich nee Riehl leaves behind 2 sons here and four in America.
Kasper Wolf, no children.
In Sept: Elisabetha Bognikowsy [Boniakowsky] nee Plotzky, wife of Peter Bognikowsky [Boniakowsky]. They had only been married 10 mos and 11 days.
Rosina Haag nee Leinz, wife of the late Isidor Haag, left four children, 3 boys and one girl. They now live with their uncle, Maximilian Haag.
In Oct: Elisabetha Fenrich nee Schreiber, wife of Mathias Fenrich, left her husband and four married children.
Theresia Habrich nee Ruscheinsky, wife of the late Michael Habrich, leaves two sons and one daughter, all married.
Readers, please pass the message on to the relatives in America.
Many have died, but there were only a few weddings:
Son of Joseph Wagner, Balthasar and Susanna, the daughter of the late Klemens Bunikowsky were married on October 21. We wish them well!
The village of Krasna can be proud of their youths. Four boys finished the village school, which was built 1914-15 and went on to Akkermann, our district town, to further their education at the state school. They are enrolled in the teacher’s seminary there, although they are still very young, age 13. Best of luck to them and may they become wonderful German teachers.
We are definitely poor in the department of German teachers especially Catholic ones. Teachers here usually are state teachers and serve the state. Anyone can teach after passing the required education. State school attendants are: Gabriel, son of Melchior Erker; Philip, son of Kasper Ruscheinsky; Eduard, son of Johannes Gross; Wendelin, son of Konrad Volk. Gabriel Erker, Philip Ruscheinsky, Eduard Gross and Wendelin Volk were the first students of our village school as far as I could find out from our teacher here. The current students finished their exams on October 16 and 17, and moved out to attend the state school.
Our health is not the best here due to crowded quarters, which cause disease to spread. Several children have died already. It has to do with the dryness perhaps, but matters are improving. The sickness has brought us a doctor on assignment here. I do not know his name yet.
All American former Krasna folks please send Rundschau subscriptions to your friends here. It would be appreciated.
Rumor has it that a Canadian company is letting people over there for free. Thirteen families are working on it, but no results yet.
Greetings to all readers here and there, the editor and staff.
Joseph Braun