From: Cogealia, Dobrudscha, Rumania
28 January 1927

Dear Staats-Anzeiger!

We have had some wet weather for a while. When it is snowing further inland then we have rain here. Only when there is a hard frost do we have snow here. Therefore, we know very little about the poetry on winter, snow and sleigh rides. We have to put up with a lot of mud all winter long.

When the German troops were stationed here in Cogealia during the war, the lieutenant ordered that a pedestrian walkway be paved on both sides through the village. This order was carried out with a lot of grumbling. However, being able to walk comfortably on these paved paths during wet weather, one was very appreciative of this directive. Today these walkways have deteriorated to a large extent. Nobody thinks of repairing them again. Therefore one has to stomp through the dirt again regardless of good or bad. This will go on until spring will allow us better walking.

The large amount of mud cannot stop old or young from getting married. The old man Heinrich Hoepfer has looked for a partner in life and married the widow Martin from Tariverde. Next week Peter Brockel will marry Sophia Frank, nee Schmidt.

Far down from out of the bush came Wilhelm Adam, son of Johann Adam from Cincurova and found his partner for life in Mathilda Suckert, daughter of Johannes Suckert. Also, the lame Johann Hueter, as difficult as it is for him to walk has arrived with a bride here in the village recently.

Fr. J. Schmidt from Longview, Washington asks if I am the Straub from the military band. Yes I am. Maybe you remember what a bad rapport I had with the “Red” bandmaster, whom my father once had insulted. Hence the bandmaster used every opportunity to avenge himself. In return, I avenged myself by composing several poems about him.

During the course of the year 1926, there were 26 deaths in Karamurat. Among the dead were the following adults:

Balthasar Plotzki, son of Jakob Plotzki, 26 years old.
Sabine Erker, nee Both, widow of Jakob Erker, 58 years old.
Sabine Ruscheinsky, nee Ruscheinsky, widow of Pius Ruscheinsky, originating from Krasna, 48 years old.
Leonhard Bartsch, son of the deceased Joseph Bartsch, 17 years old.
Kasimir Both was 67 years old.
Johannes Weidemann from Malcoci was 53 years old.
The widow Philippine Tuchscherer was 66 years old.
Eva Nitsche, the wife of Rudolf Nitsche was 30 years old.

There were 16 weddings in Karamurat.

The widower Johannes Fleckenstein from Krasna married Katharina Aspenleiter, daughter of the deceased Salomon Aspenleiter.
Maximilian Ternes, son of the deceased Augustin Ternes from Krasna married Theonilla Ternes, daughter of Karl Ternes.
Franz Speicher, son of Michael Speicher married Marianna Ternes, daughter of Joseph Ternes.
The widower Kasimir Ternes married the widow Agatha Both, nee Friedrich.
Raphael Mueller, son of Alois Mueller married Appolonia Bachmeier, daughter of Jakob Bachmeier.
Anton Drescher, son of Andreas Drescher married Emilia Ruscheinsky, daughter of Reinhold Ruscheinsky.
Johannes Ankert, son of Leo Ankert married Martha Speicher, daughter of the deceased Michael Speicher.
Arsenius Marthe, son of Dionis Marthe married Katharina Ruscheinsky, daughter of Reinhold Ruscheinsky.
Emil Hermann, son of Peter Hermann married Theonilla Plotzky, daughter of Jakob Plotzky.
Hyronimus Hoffart, son of Joachim Hoffart married Katharina Schnell, daughter of Stephan Schnell.
Raphael Wagner, son of Philipp married Marianna Ternes, daughter of Johannes Ternes.
Joseph Fenrich, son of Martin married Martha Ruscheinsky, daughter of Lorenz Ruscheinsky.
Alois Goetz, son of Michael married Paulina Kreis, daughter of Zachaeus Kreis.
Kornelius Ruscheinsky, son of Jakob married Aurora Plotzky, daughter of Telesphor Plotzky.
Widower Rudolf Nitsche married Klara Wagner, daughter of Philipp.

Isidor Bachmeier, the son of Jakob Bachmeier returned from Rome as a priest this summer. He had studied there and also earned his doctorate degree. Now he serves in Bucharest. In this respect Karamurat is ahead of all other German villages. It lays claim to having the most people with a higher education.

Sarightol has a teacher again. He is Otto Jungfer who until now was teaching in the “Neuen Weingaerten” (New Vineyards) and Alakap. Georg Stadel was elected mayor. He used to be one of my students.

During fall a sad accident occurred here. The young Mr. Knodel had a relative from Bessarabia working for him. One day the boy disappeared. Nobody knew were he might be. A few days later a dog came along carrying a human leg. The neighborhood was searched more thoroughly and the boy was found hanging in the garden of a Rumanian. No one had been able to find him earlier in the thicket.

Rebekka Schelske, nee Bobermin from Cogealac recently died in Konstanza. She was at a young age and had died as the result of an operation. August Bobermin was the father of the young deceased woman. During the war a grenade had torn him apart in the neighboring village Gavartschik, where he had gone with his son-in-law from Cogealac. How it all happened, no one knows. His son-in-law said they had found a grenade on which the old August had tapped around.

Valentin Unterschuetz, son of the late Valentin Unterschuetz died recently at the age of 36 years in Tariwerde. The grieving widow has been left with 6 children. In Cogealac the following people were married:

Thomas Wolschinski married Christine Kern, daughter of Jakob Kern who had died during the war.

Konrad Scholpp, son of Johannes married Karolina Blumhagen, daughter of Johann.

Johann Kaim from Ortaikoi married Lydia Scholpp, daughter of Johannes.

Johannes Kaefer, son of Eduard married Ida Mueller, daughter of Johannes.

Mathilde Siewert, daughter of Wilhelm married Karl Albrecht, son of Valentin from Tariwerde.

Johann Straub