From: Krasna, Bessarabia
10 November 1929
Esteemed Staats-Anzeiger!
On 5 November, Johannes Gedak, son of Joseph Gedak, forged himself into the sweet yoke of marriage with Ida Leinz, daughter of Isidor Leinz. After mass and the nuptial ceremonies, the invited wedding guests gathered in the yard of the wedding house. After they were all assembled, the fathers of the groom and the bride, Joseph Gedak and Isidor Leinz and their wives, Gratiana and Irena, stepped into the center of the group of guests, welcomed them and wished them a good appetite and merriment. Thereafter, the guests wished the young couple lots of luck on their joint lives journey. Then the fathers of the couple served shots of schnapps to the guests. The mothers of the couple passed snacks around. After that, the guests all entered the wedding house, where every one took a seat. I caught a seat next to the bride’s father, Isidor Leinz, who immediately filled our glasses with red wine, which we emptied toasting to good health for the editor Mr.Brandt, and his assistant E. J. Haag. Oh, we would have loved to have you among us on this day, but it wasn’t meant to be, because it would have been too nice. (*Editor: Indeed, would have liked to have shared ‘one Red’ with you and joined in the celebration.)
During this opportune time, we talked a lot about the Staats-Anzeiger, which arrives here regularly and is read by all with great pleasure. There was a lot of cheer and fun at this wedding party. There was no shortage of food and beverages. (*Editor: We extend to the young couple our belated wishes for much luck and God’s rich blessing upon their union.)
In Krasna, your name was Peter, and now that you are in Canada just a short time, you call yourself Anton Söhn, son of August. I read your correspondence, dated 16 September, in Edition #24 of the Staats-Anzeiger. It made me very happy that you and your family arrived happily and healthy in Canada. Your estate was auctioned off for 102,200 lei. Julius Ternes, son of Martin, is now owner of your property. He moved in on 8 November.
Your old landlord Albertus Marthe died on 9 September, and widow Annatolia could not come up with the last 3,400 lei. Now, Anton, where is your promise? Tell my sister’s children, namely Joseph, Peter, Adolf, and Reinhold Kopp, that they should order the Staats-Anzeiger at once, if they are not as yet readers of the same. And you, Anton, write me a detailed letter about how my friends are faring over there. I will not hesitate with a reply. Further, I greet correspondent Friederich Reich in Strassburg, Soviet Russia. I would like to ask him at the same time if the chaplain Theobald Kopp is still in Strassburg. His parents Simon and Elisabetha Kopp and his siblings are all in good health and send their kind regards. Perhaps Father Kopp could publish a brief report in the Staats-Anzeiger about his life and health, so that his parents will know how he is doing. We also would welcome a sign of life from the priest Johannes Furch in Selz, Soviet Russia.
The weather now is just the way the farmers want it. Several times already it has rained very hard. However, only a little winter wheat was planted. All that was seeded sprouted nicely. Should it continue to be nice throughout this month, then the young seedlings will develop very well.
At this time the farmers are diligently plowing their fields. Those farmers, who have completed their fieldwork, can earn some wages by hauling goods every day. Everybody can put such earnings to good use, because everyone has to buy bread this year; that is, if he does not want to eat barley bread. Everything we sell is dirt cheap, while that which we need to live on is very expensive. For wheat, of which the harvest did not produce much this year, we have to pay 100-120 lei per pud (36.11 lbs). To the contrary, for barley we receive only 45 lei per pud, and the same for Welsh corn. Hogs are also very expensive this year. Many families in the village have neither a hog nor a piglet to butcher. The pigs are really in for it now, but unfortunately, the bratwurst will not taste as good as usual because there is a lack of wine. Well, whoever does not have any wine will have to drink water with it, which is not harmful to one’s health.
To inform Heinrich Ternes, I have read his correspondence in the Staats-Anzeiger. Please, Heinrich, write sometime about the whereabouts of Markus Söhn and how he likes it in Brazil. We heard that he wants to come back to Krasna. I believe that he will stay where he is now, because from Brazil to here is no leisurely drive.
Since my last report the following persons have died:
On 24 October, Dominik Paul, age 65, left behind his wife Marianna.
On 31 October, Lorenz Riehl, 69 years old, left behind his wife Katharina, two single sons and also several married children, of which Adolf lives in America.
On 6 November, Erasmus Ruscheinsky, 29 years old, lost his life in an accident. He left behind one child and his wife Waleria nee Kuss, daughter of Narzisius Kuss.
May they rest in peace and the perpetual light shine upon them.
Greetings to everyone,
Anton Gedak
From: Haynes, Adams County, ND
14 December 1929
Esteemed Staats-Anzeiger:
The health conditions around here are fairly good. Only my wife suffers from diabetes and probably will not get well again, because it is an incurable disease. How is my brother in Canada doing? Twelve years have passed since we last saw each other. Give a sign of life of yourself in the Staats-Anzeiger.
We read with pleasure the many articles in the Staats-Anzeiger. Especially the reports from Krasna, Bessarabia, for which we thank the gentlemen Anton Gedak and Isidor Leinz very much, also our friend Adam Seifert in Emmental. The reports from Maria Paul in Canada also bring us joy. We would like to know her maiden name and her husband’s name.
The harvest was average. The outcome of flax was meager, and the potato crop was weaker yet.
Our town, Hettinger, is making good progress. Last summer 37 houses were built, and still there is a shortage of homes.
Our father-in-law, Peter Schäfer, with his 85 years is still alive and well.
Thomas Ihli