Die Welt-Post, Thursday, 19 April 1923
Page 2, "Excerpts from Russian Letters"
Dietel
To: : A. Wamboldt Alliance, Nebraska
Much beloved children:
With pleasure we inform you that we received the letter that you sent us with great joy. We were especially pleased that you are well. We are also healthy for the time being.
Next we want to tell you a bit about our situation. We have 2 old horses, 1 cow, 1 two year old steer, 3 sheep, 5 pigs and 15 hens. This past spring we received 24 pud of wheat seed which we sowed and harvested 90 pud. We harvested 60 pud of rye and some millet. We had to give up altogether 52 pud, consisting of wheat and rye. You can see that there is little left over for us. We had to pay a 15 million rubles "Head Tax," then some went for the Pastor and the Schoolmaster. We also had to give some Butter. Thus you can see that the outlay is so large that only a little remains.
Then the question arises: where will we get seed and food? But, Praise God, things are going better than the 2 previous years. Our children are all grown and working. The girls are busy weaving and spinning. There is always something to do even if it is very little. I, your father, work with wood but the work will soon be too difficult for me as I am getting old.
Now we want to tell you that we received your 2 "Posilken" (money orders). We say many thanks to you for them. It reminded us of the story of Joseph, how he supported his father and siblings . Yes, dear son, to our minds your were sent to us and then to the land of plenty by God so that we could be rescued during the period of great famine.
Dear children: We, your parents, lay this evening in our bed and our thoughts and feelings are with you in America. We speak often of you and our heartfelt wish is to be able to see you once more before we put aside our earthly pilgrim's staffs. But it is difficult to get to America and now we are old and hardly worth the effort involved to attempt such a difficult journey. If however, we seek on this earth that which is above then we will meet once again in a better country where there are no separations, no periods of inflation and no wars.
Things are more difficult for (Illegible surname)'s children than for us. They have no more horses, no plow or "Abmachenmaschine" (??machines/equipment) and only 1 cow and 1 sheep. Their horses died and the rest they traded for food during the bitterest period of the famine. The second youngest daughter eats and drinks with us. From your grandfather we learned that Heinrich has left for South Russia. That his child was eaten by pigs, sadly, is true. We don't know anything more about him, not even if he is alive or dead; they have all scattered, none of them live on the farmstead anymore, all the buildings are gone. Aunt Mariekatrin's mother died. Her brother left, wanting to travel to America, but he returned after having traveled only a short way. The same happened with many people. Their houses were torn down and now they sit like birds on a dry branch.
During the Great famine all of our people wanted to go to America. But I could see that the way was not open and I knew that they would have to come back again but in much worse condition than when they left.
((Much of the rest is too dark to read))
Your brother David is in Saratov in the Communist School learning to be an officer.
Your sister Liese did well in our school here. She did well on her exams and now is in school in Grimm.
The forwarder of the above letter, Mr. A. Womboldt, in Alliance, Nebraska, asks his village compatriots from Dietel to take a more active role in corresponding with the Welt-Post and at the same time also sends his best greetings.---The Editor
Page 2, "Excerpts of Russian Letters"
Balzer, Russia
11 March
To:David D. Volz Loveland, Colorado
Dear Brother:
A short note to tell you that we are still well. The clothes that you sent through friend Jacob Volz have safely arrived. When they arrived there was a great celebration because we were so terribly bedraggled that we could no longer go out in public among the people. We also received the money, for which I bought a cow and you know how necessary a cow is for agriculture. A proverb says: A garden and a cow cover all poverty. Besides the cow, I have a horse, a pig and 7 chickens. And in addition, the beautiful American clothes. For all these gifts I bespeak to you my best thanks.
Things are now already going much better. But there are many people who received nothing from their friends in America, with them things are going miserably as far as clothing is concerned.
With greetings, your brother,
Wilhelm Moehser ((surname could also be Moehler--translator))
Page 2, "Excerpts of Russian Letters"
Frank
3 February
To: Georg Bauer, Loveland, Colorado
Much beloved brother-in-law and sister:
We have received your letter of 17 December safely and with great joy. So far we are still healthy, which says a lot because we are a family that consists of 16 souls. My son Jacob and his wife have 7 children; Karl and his wife have 4 children. My youngest son, Georg, was in the military, became very ill and came home. He was home for only 24 hours and then died. Getting such a large family through the past 2 years has been very difficult. Brother Heinrich sent us a Food Draft and that was all the help we received. But with God's help we brought the family through.
You want to know about churches, schools and "Versammlung" (Brotherhood meetings). For now we still have them all. The land has now been apportioned. The "Chutore" (small settlements) kept their land as it was. The Frank community divided its land into 20 portions, of which 7 portions are close by and 13 border native lands. On each portion are 250 souls. We received our portion at the river, in front and in back of the mountain, past the saltpeter ditch and beyond. Generally speaking there is 500 Desjatin of arable land, excluding the Steppe (plains). We have already built a few shelters there but we are not happy with the place because there is not enough land and it does not lend itself to farming. We have to buy land in the other Kanton and then bring everything home (he probably means he has to bring the crops from there to the village where the family lives---Welt-Post Editor).
We have 4 horses, 3 pair of oxen, 4 cows, 19 sheep and bread and seed. Only with clothing is there a problem, soon there will be none to buy. Gottfried Hartung has been living in your house.
In closing, be affectionately greeted by your brother-in-law and brother who lives on "der breiten Gasse." (the wide lane).
Jacob Borgens
Page 2 "From Colorado and Russia"
Fort Morgan, Colorado
11 April
Dear Friend Lorenz:
First, a greeting to you and the Welt-Post family, of which I am a member. I find the reports presented to us from week to week to be very interesting. I also wish to unburden myself and put together a short report. Whether it gets put in the Welt-Post or in the wastepaper basket, I will learn in the near future.
The weather is wonderfully warm and the people are busily at work in the fields. It is written: "Sow your seeds early." Whosoever faithfully follows this rule is fulfilling an obligation. Prosperity is given by God who always keeps His promises. Because He is an all powerful and loving father it is not difficult to receive His blessing. With us humans however, it is as Luther says: "We can accomplish nothing with our power, we are quickly defeated."
Now I must report about a terrible accident which occurred here this afternoon. Friedrich Schlotthauer and his wife were driving into town. As they drove over a railroad crossing a train came along and hurled their car 50 feet sideways. The wife was killed instantly and the husband critically injured. Six children are left motherless and the outcome for the father is yet unknown. The family was from Kraft, Russia.
With greetings, Konrad and Kath. (Lehl) Koch
The Russian Letter
To: Konrad and Kath. Koch
in Fort Morgan, Colorado
Dear brother-in-law and sister and your children:
We are letting you know that we are still among the living and are in good health. We must give you sad news that not all of us remain in the land of the living; because our father died on the 7th of July of this past year. Song number 703 in the Volga Songbook was sung at the graveside. The pallbearers were: Johannes Gerlach, Johannes Arndt, Johannes, son of Konrad Arndt and Georg Giebelhaus. Now we have shared our sorrow with you and you can cry as we did.
The 3 bundles of things have not yet arrived and it is very necessary for us to have them. The emergency is great but one dare not write much about it. The food that you sent, we received with great rejoicing. In spite of father's desire to see it, he was not able to survive any longer. Both of us, brothers Peter and Georg, carefully distributed everything. We also received father's Clothing Draft and divided it among we three brothers: Peter, Heinrich and Georg. We gave the shirts to Georg Trieber, he was near naked and was very happy to have them.
Now in closing, be affectionately greeted by your brothers-in-law and brothers,
Peter, Heinrich and Georg Lehl
Page 2 "To The American Relief Society"
Frank, Saratov, Russia
January 21, 1923
After a long pause I will once again attempt to give my friends in America a short report. I will repeat that I have received the 2 Food Drafts, one from Brush, Colorado, and the other recently from Loveland, Colorado, from the Evangelical Ladies Society. I also send my best greetings to Pastor Zorn in Brush, Colorado, and Mr. John Loebsack, in Loveland, Colorado, from whom I had the good fortune to receive letters, and also to the Evangelical Ladies Society go my heartfelt thanks.
With my brother-in-law Conrad Loebsack in Berthoud, Colorado and my sister Henrietta, I share that I have received everything and that it all was sent to the correct address; I had written them earlier but do not know if my letter was received.
Mr. Conrad Bastron, in Loveland, wrote to me that he had sent me some packets of clothing to distribute, but as of today I have not received them. They may have been lost or stolen, which would not be anything new here. I further note for my friend Conrad Bastron, that I could not find out anything about his son and family. The last that was known was that they went to the Crimea. Since then there has been no news of him.
From Mr. T.T. Wacker, from Hastings, Nebraska, 507 South Chicago Ave., I received a letter in which he makes a request of me and to which I responded on the 28th of March, reporting that he had ventured forth with great fanfare on November 11, 1903. He promised he would reply as soon he received the information. The letter probably went to the wrong address and for that reason I repeat the information.
Mr. Paul Wagner, in Brush, Colorado sought news about his sister Anna Maria, who he had last heard had earlier married George Frick. She has already died in July of 1920. The letter he sent was dated January 8, 1922, and was answered by my wife. We don't know if he received it.
If the above referred to persons do not read this newspaper, perhaps other persons living in the same cities can inform them.
You dear friends, you should not think that I ignore your letters. I would personally reply to each of them but it is not within my means because each letter costs a half million ruble, that is as much as I want to say (about it).
On January 17, 1923, we laid dear sister Katherine Kammerzell, nee Reiter, to rest. She had reached the age of 78 years, 10 months and 1 day when she was called by the Lord of life and death. She was born on April 14, 1844. In her 18th year she gave her hand to the bond of marriage with Georg Zitzmann, which lasted 28 years until she was released again by the death of her husband. From this union came 8 children, and of these, 2 daughters and 3 sons now live in the United States.
After 4 years as a widow she married Conrad Braun who likewise was taken from her by death in January of 1910. She then undertook the difficult journey to America to look upon the faces of her children. But the longing for her old homeland became strong and she was unused to the conditions in the strange land, so she returned to her old home in Frank.
In 1919, she once again joined in the bond of matrimony with Heinrich Kammerzell to share love and joy together in their old age. She was a dear, faithful and conscientious mother. Children from 3 families stood at her grave. She displayed love, patience and diligence to her families and likewise she was the same in her community and in the "Versammlungen" (Brotherhood meetings), giving her love to everything. and thus, love and thanks followed her to the grave. Hebrews, chapter 4, verse 9: "There is yet another peace at hand for God's people," were the words with which we lined up at her coffin. "Oh, how unspeakably blessed we are to be in Heaven," was sung as she was escorted to "God's Acre" (cemetery). Psalm 121 served as the final words over her grave.
I read in the paper that Pastor Wagner is happily back in Lincoln and that his return was well received and we are happy that he was so affectionately received there. Herein he is affectionately greeted by me and my family. God protect him and bless him in the continuing service as a Samaritan, for which he is destined.
I affectionately greet all those from Frank who know me,
Joh. Eckhardt, Schoolmaster
Page 2 "Excerpts from Russian Letters"
Dietel
To: A. Wamboldt Alliance, Nebraska
Much beloved children:
With pleasure we inform you that we received the letter that you sent us with great joy. We were especially pleased that you are well. We are also healthy for the time being.
Next we want to tell you a bit about our situation. We have 2 old horses, 1 cow, 1 two year old steer, 3 sheep, 5 pigs and 15 hens. This past spring we received 24 pud of wheat seed which we sowed and harvested 90 pud. We harvested 60 pud of rye and some millet. We had to give up altogether 52 pud, consisting of wheat and rye. You can see that there is little left over for us. We had to pay a 15-million-ruble "Head Tax," then some went for the pastor and the schoolmaster. We also had to give some butter. Thus you can see that the outlay is so large that only a little remains.
Then the question arises: where will we get seed and food? But, Praise God, things are going better than the 2 previous years. Our children are all grown and working. The girls are busy weaving and spinning. There is always something to do even if it is very little. I, your father, work with wood but the work will soon be too difficult for me as I am getting old.
Now we want to tell you that we received your 2 "Posilken" (money orders). We say many thanks to you for them. It reminded us of the story of Joseph, how he supported his father and siblings. Yes, dear son, to our minds you were sent to us and then to the land of plenty by God so that we could be rescued during the period of great famine.
Dear children: We, your parents, lay this evening in our bed and our thoughts and feelings are with you in America. We speak often of you and our heartfelt wish is to be able to see you once more before we put aside our earthly pilgrim's staffs. But it is difficult to get to America and now we are old and hardly worth the effort involved to attempt such a difficult journey. If however, we seek on this earth that which is above then we will meet once again in a better country where there are no separations, no periods of inflation and no wars.
Things are more difficult for Daveteer's(??) children than for us. They have no more horses, no plow or "Abmachenmaschine" (??machines/equipment) and only 1 cow and 1 sheep. Their horses died and the rest they traded for food during the bitterest period of the famine. The second youngest daughter eats and drinks with us. From your grandfather we learned that Heinrich has left for South Russia. That his child was eaten by pigs, sadly, is true. We don't know anything more about him, not even if he is alive or dead; they have all scattered, none of them live on the farmstead anymore, all the buildings are gone. Aunt Mariekatrin's mother died. Her brother left, wanting to travel to America, but he returned after having traveled only a short way. The same happened with many people. Their houses were torn down and now they sit like birds on a dry branch.
During the Great famine all of our people wanted to go to America. But I could see that the way was not open and I knew that they would have to come back again but in much worse condition than when they left. We also would gladly have emigrated and come to you, dear children, to see you and hold you in our loving arms; but one must consider, when facing danger, that one can possibly die, which sadly, so many of our people had to learn the hard way and they have now thoughtlessly fallen into even greater misery.
Your brother David is in Saratov in the Communist School, learning to be an officer. Your sister did well in our school here and has passed an exam that would allow her to go to the school in Grimm, but we do not have the means to send her. The school in Grimm costs 75 million ruble and we can't afford it.
We will close now with many greetings,
Your Parents and Siblings
-----------------
The forwarder of the above letter, Mr. A. Womboldt, in Alliance, Nebraska, asks his village compatriots from Dietel to take a more active role in corresponding with the Welt-Post and at the same time also sends his best greetings.---The Editor
This translation provided courtesy of Hugh Lichtenwald.