From: Krasna, Bessarabia
15 March 1929
Dear Staats-Anzeiger!
It looks like the winter is ending. It brought us very little snow but very cold temperatures. On some days, the temperatures were 25 to 30 degrees below zero. That had never happened before in Bessarabia. It was so cold that dogs froze to death in the courtyards, and rabbits and birds froze to death in the fields. Several families had to leave their homes and stay with neighbors or friends.
On 24 February, shortly after 6 o’clock in the evening the 25-meter long house of Valentin Ternes burned to the ground. The flames consumed the farm equipment, household gear and 5 pud of wheat in the storage area. The furniture was saved. The fire started when a stove overheated. The loss is estimated at several thousand lei.
Sixty families from here want to immigrate to Canada but many have to withdraw due to the lack of travel money. Most of the families are poor and have many children.
This is to inform Markus Weber in Slatorum, Siberia that I read his report dated 5 December of last year in the Staats-Anzeiger. Your old mother and your siblings are alive and healthy.
Please say hello to Michael Maass and let him know that his brother Gregor died on 13 March of this year.
Mr. Weber, would it be possible for you to let me know where the children of the deceased Johannes Dirk reside. His oldest son Rudolf is supposedly living in the government of Tiflis. The issue here is the inheritance of the children. When the deceased Johannes Dirk left Krasna before the war, he left his property behind. The inheritance will be taken over by the government if the heirs don’t claim it. Thus they should send a power of attorney so that the property can be sold.
Since my last report, the following people have passed away in Krasna:
The widower Michael Harsche died at the age of 85 years on 26 January.
Katharina Schaefer died on 26 January at the age of 56 years and left behind her husband Nikolaus Schaefer.
The widow Rosalia Becker died on 2 February at the age of 94 years (the old Sattlersch).
Michael Ternes died at the age of 82 years on 7 February (the old musician). He left his second wife Marianna, nee Haag, daughter of Mathias Haag.
Joseph Krams, son of Christoph died on 7 February at the age of 60 years. He left his mourning wife Monika, nee Schreiber, daughter of Joseph, and several children.
The widow Katharina Fenrich, nee Gedak died on 5 March at the age of 77 years.
Peace be to their ashes and may the perpetual light shine upon them!
Just when I was writing these lines, the widow Katharina Schwalje, nee Paul came to visit me. She asked me for God’s sake to please ask her brother-in-law Johannes and sister-in-law Anna Nagel in North Dakota (correct address unknown) through the Staats-Anzeiger to help in her dire need. She hasn’t had any bread for a long time. Her sons serve as soldiers. Please show pity for this poor widow.
Johannes Herrschaft and his wife Emerenziana, nee Seifert are asking their friends Johannes and Helena Oschosek (or Tschosek), their children Hilarius and Martha, Peter and wife Barbara Schaefer and Thomas and Genofeva Ihle in America for assistance. The children cry for bread, but there is no bread in the house. They are in dire need.
Thus, dear friends have pity also on this poor family.
With a greeting,
Anton Gedak