From: Emmental, Bessarabia
18 October 1931
Dear Staats-Anzeiger!
I can inform Mr. Joseph Mueller in Canada that I have given his report that appeared in the newspaper to his parents and siblings to read. They were very happy to finally hear from you. Joseph had already contacted others. He had thought that the old correspondent had already thrown in the towel. That is not so. I now will send reports more often from here.
I have given up farming and now work as a shoemaker. I gave my land to Hyronimus Mueller for 50 percent (of the harvest amount) of crop sharing. There was an error in my previous report. Philipp Volk and Theobald Baumann did not build bridges at the railroad, but they worked as guards at the railroad crossing.
In my previous report, I mentioned that Mr. Bartel had arrived here with his family from Selz, Soviet Russia and started to work as teacher. After teaching German for a few days, he departed for Kischinev because he had lost the teacher position.
Magnus Seifert who serves as the sexton in Emmental took over as teacher. He had received permission from the government to teach German lessons in our village. Mr. Bartel was very angry with this and threatened to disgrace the people in the newspaper, which I think is not proper.
The election for the administration of the community store took place on Thursday. The following people were elected: Alexander Nagel as chairman; Joseph Mueller was reelected as purchasing agent; Aloisius Deichert as bookkeeper; Xaverius Baumann as salesman; Alexander Nagel, son of Dominik as treasurer.
The following gentlemen were elected to the auditing committee: Joseph Paul; Johannes Seifert; Adam Baumann; Hyronimus Nagel and the undersigned. Our community store made good business last year, but too many goods were sold on credit, so that 79,630 leis remain to be paid by customers. Isn’t it true Mr. Rochus Paul, that when you left the community store there were about 40,000 leis pending to be paid?
Xaverius Maass is mayor. He maintains good order in the village. Boys used to roam the streets all night long and were up to no good. However peace set in after the mayor had spanked them well several times. Now after 9PM, the street is empty.
With the best greetings,
Adam Seifert
From: Fox Valley, Saskatchewan
3 November 1931
Dear Staats-Anzeiger!
I am sending $7.00 that is $3.50 for me and $3.50 for my brother Reinhold in Braila, Rumania for the Staats-Anzeiger subscription. I believe that the address has not changed. (*Editor: We have received the amount and sent a calendar to you and your brother. Thank you very much.)
Now I want to report a death. I should have done so sooner, but it had to be postponed due to lack of time. Johanna Fahn, nee Bischof died here this year on 13 April. She was born on 13 March 1873 in the Kandel colony, Russia. She left her husband Johannes Fahn and several siblings. This should inform friends in Soviet Russia.
Now I will switch over to my homeland village Krasna, Bessarabia with a friendly hello to my neighbor Severin Becker. Severin should urge Maximilian Volk to write to his parents, because they have not heard anything from him in a long while.
I do not have enough time so I am closing now. I will write more the next time.
I send a greeting to my dear parents and siblings and also to the editor Mr. Brandt and all readers.
Anton A. Soehn