From: Krasna, Bessarabia
23 January 1927

Worthy Staats-Anzeiger!

By all indications we will have a severe winter. That’s why we should not save on fuel, of which every one of us has plenty.

The health conditions leave much to be desired. There are many sick people in the village. The wife of Rudolf Nagel*, son of Johannes is bedridden with a serious illness. Her recovery is doubtful. She has asthma and a problem with her lungs. This is to inform his brothers Philipp and August Nagel in North Dakota.

I read the report in the Staats-Anzeiger by Joseph Dirk near Raleigh, North Dakota, in which he is asking about his cousins Jakob and Kaspar Kuss and also about his confirmation sponsor Philipp Hinz. I can tell him that the aforementioned and their families are still healthy, and he is asking them to send him the Staats-Anzeiger as a gift.

Recently, I also read the report by August Nagel near Raleigh, North Dakota in the Staats-Anzeiger. I want to inform him that his father died on 6 November. I had already reported about this in #17 of the paper.

Johannes Leinz is sending many greetings to his son Joseph in Bismarck. He is asking him to write sometime. He hasn’t heard anything from him in a year. He wants him to know that his father and his siblings are still healthy.

Anton Gedak

*Translator’s (Ambrosius Leinz’s) note: Rudolf Nagel and his wife Dorothea, nee Kopp are my grandparents. Dorothea died on 26 March 1927.

From: Selfridge, Sioux County, ND
15 February 1927

Worthy Editor Mr. Brandt!

This is to inform all friends all over the world that the wife of my neighbor Joseph Merck, Kunigunda, nee Glass, daughter of Anton Glass, died on Saturday, 12 February after a long illness.

The deceased, who was born in Baden, South Russia was married to Joseph Merck on 23 October 1890. In 1900 the couple from Russia immigrated to Canada and settled near Vibank, Saskatchewan where they stayed until 1919. Since the woman already then suffered from rheumatism and the local climate did not agree with her, they resettled in Solon Springs, Wisconsin in 1919. There the suffering woman could not stand the damp climate and once again they moved. This time their destination was Selfridge, North Dakota where they made their home. Here the weather was agreeable with her and they decided to stay. Last spring the woman took ill with a bad liver disease and all the skills of the doctors were in vain and that took her to her grave after suffering for 22 years.

The deceased reached the age of 56 years and 6 months. She left her deeply grieving husband and 10 children, namely 4 daughters and 6 sons. Four sons preceded their mother in death. May she rest in peace and may the perpetual light shine upon her.

In closing, I greet all readers and also Editor Brandt.

Philipp Erker