From: Krasna, Bessarabia
8 November 1920

Worthy Staats-Anzeiger!

Since I am now also a reader of the paper I want to show that I am grateful by reporting a little bit.

Along with a great drought we already have considerable cold. We could not sow any winter wheat because we had no rain. Winter wheat is the main seed here. So you can imagine that the people here are not in a good mood. But we don’t have to give up. We can still sow the summer wheat. Several people had already done this the past year and received up to 75 pud per dessjatine. Barley and corn have a good price. Barley earns 30 to 33 lei and corn 24 to 26 lei. The price for wheat is not any higher.

We have no reason to despair. We have not yet starved. Recently during a community meeting the remark was made; “If he doesn’t want to earn 500 lei per month as a sexton he might as well starve to death!” No, with that the people are on the wrong track. He will not starve to death. God is his provider.

I am very grateful to my brother-in-law Johannes Harsche for having the Staats-Anzeiger sent to me as a gift.

All of us are still healthy.

With a heartfelt greeting, Edmund Gansky

From: Krasna, Bessarabia
20 November 1920

Very Honored Mr. Editor!

I am informing you that I have received your check for 1,646 lei and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. The bank in Bukarest will cash the check for me. It originated from Michael M. Erker who had sent $35 for my aging mother. I also thank my nephew in the name of my mother for his kind support, which he is giving her during her old age.

The letter which had been enclosed had disappeared. The envelope was open, but the check was still in it. (*Editor: The letter was registered and therefore the money could have never gotten lost.)

The postal service must not be functioning too well as yet, since I have not received all newspapers.

With the best greetings and the utmost respect for the editor,

Viktor Nagel

From: Raleigh, North Dakota
11 December 1920

Worthy Staats-Anzeiger!

There is very little frost in the ground and the cattle are still outside on the prairie. With such weather the farmers are able to get their work done.

Perhaps someone in the reader’s circle can give me the address of Hermann and Romanus Dirk who used to live near Rugby, N.D., and also the address of Anton Dirk in Canada. Mr. Romuald Dirk would like to hear something from them. He is their nephew and my father-in-law.

We are supposedly from Grossliebental. My father’s name is Joseph and my grandfather is Mathias Gross. Two brothers still live in the village. Felix passed away and Franz is still living there. My mother comes from Mannheim. Her father’s name was Balthasar Bichler and her mother’s name was Magdalena Schneider.

(*Editor: Yes, packages up to 22 pounds can be shipped to Rumania and the cost is 12 cents per pound.)

I am finished with digging for coal and if my in-laws were here they could warm themselves along with us using the coals.

I am sending greetings to you and to all friends here and there.

Ignatz Gross