Letters from Pomeroy to Harle

I translated the letters as best I could. The language, of course, was somewhat antiquated, but close enough to modern German to be clear. Still, I found it difficult to render all the nuances into English. Generally I tried to retain the style, even if it sounded a bit awkward; but then, I'm not a translator, and it became woefully clear to me that English is not my first language, although it has been my "working language" for many years.

I arranged the letters in chronological order, apart from the last one which is of a different nature anyway. My translations are preceded by expanatory notes, and two of the letters can be seen in their original; just click on the appropriate place. I thank Hank Dilcher of Atlanta for his help with providing the electronic files.

Letter from Henry to Harle, July 22, 1855

This is Probably the best letter (in terms of style and composition) in the lot. Henry wrote in beautiful prose, and I felt quite inadequate translating it. I'm a bit puzzled by the unusual spelling of his name; in his second letter it was "normal" again.

Already long separated by a great distance from you, still I always think of you and I feel inspired to tell you about my situation by way of a few lines. 7 years ago I left the great metropolis, the universally known New York, in order to seek my fortune in the interior of this country and to gain material security as quickly as possible. With God's help and through the tireless diligence of my hands I have soon succeeded in this. Already several years ago I built a very nice and large house which contains my fine and well stocked store for shoes and boots. I follow my profession with very good success and employ continuously 4 to 6 journeymen, and still I am unable to produce as much as I could sell. There is so much space left that I receive more than 100 Prussian Thalers in rent from tenants. As far as my business is concerned, there is nothing left to be desired. Life here is free and unrestricted, and in no way one has to sweat and sigh under the burden of a sovereign or arrogant authorities. Here one doesn't have to take off one's hat to anybody, and a diligent and skillful merchant is worth as much, and has as much to say, as as millionaire, an official or a clergyman. And whatever one earns, he can call his own.

I have, thanks to God, come so far that, if I wanted to leave, I could sell my property for 5,000 Prussian Thalers. As long as no misfortune comes over me, which is something that is beyond our control, I am able to save 500 Prussian Thalers year after year. My family now consists of 3 descendants, two boys and a girl, and all are bright and healthy, which I can also say about myself and my dear wife, and which I also hope to be the case with you. As far as this area here is concerned, it can be considered as one of the most fertile and healthy regions of the country. Pomeroy, which was barely on the map 20 years ago, has now grown to a town with factories, commerce and agriculture in full prosperity. The majority of inhabitants are German. The prices of bread are lower here than in Germany, and one expects them to fall even further since this year there has been an exceptionally rich crop and all produce is available in great abundance. For two years food prices had been quite high, and often the poor man did not have enough to eat, let alone feed his family; this was mostly the case in the big cities. As a fellow German, and knowing the conditions here, I warn all of my German compatriots to stay away from the big cities as much as possible if they want to come to this highly praised country. Everyone is drawn to the big cities where there is an oversupply of labour, while there is a shortage of workers in small towns.

I have little to write about brother Wilhelm. He wrote several letters already which, however, are of varying content so that I cannot take them very seriously. Sometimes he wrote that he was doing very well, and at other times he asked for money. I sent him 10 Dollars to comply with his request; that is all I know about him.

I am filled with the one desire to see one or the other of you here; this would make us extremely happy. We would do everything in our power to make your stay most pleasant and to help you gain some possessions as quickly as possible. Should it be the case that people from your village or surroundings travel over here, I would be very pleased if you could refer them to me. In the 7 years since I have settled here I haven't seen anyone from my home principality, much less an acquaintance or friend. There is always work in this area, better than anywhere else, because incredible business deals are being done here. The voyage from New York over here is definitely not arduous or expensive since one can travel all the way by steam power, partly on land and partly by water.

I hope to receive a letter from you before too long so that I can get somewhat acquainted with your present circumstances. I will never forget my Fatherland, and the years of my childhood still appear before my eyes like a happy dream. In the meantime I beg you to be content with these few lines, and I close this letter in the hope that you will write quite soon. A warm fare-well from far away to you all. I greet you in true hope and love.

Your faithful brother and friend
Heinerich Dielcher

My address is
Mstr.
Heinerich Dielcher
in
Pomeroy Meigs Counti
(Ohio)

Link to the original letter: Page 1 - Page 2.

Letter from Andreas (Andrew) to Harle, February, 1871

For more than a month I have now been waiting for a letter from you, but every time I get to the post office I feel betrayed since nothing has arrived. Therefore I am asking you today, why is it that you are hesitating so long with your writing; after all, I wrote to you and asked for a reply which I am still waiting for. Even if my letter didn't arrive, you could have tried to find out whether I arrived. By now I could have long received word from you, but all in vain. Therefore I would like to know what the reason for this long hesitation is.

I gave you a description of my trip; I will repeat that now. I stayed 10 days in Bremen and another day in Bremerhaven, then I traveled with the steamer [...] to Hull. Here I had another 2 days to wait. Then I took the train to Liverpool; we passed through 21 tunnels. Here I had a 6-day wait; then I went on the ship ``Manhattan", and it took 16 $1/2$ days to reach New York. Here I spent one day before I took the train to Baltimore, where I spent another day before I went to Pittsburgh by train. From there I traveled by boat to Pomeroy, where I like it so far. When I arrived here, my uncle recognized me immediately. I have now been here for $1/4$ year already. I didn't picture America the way it is. If nothing happens, my uncle will come home one day and visit you. I can assure you, he is richer than you thought. As far as I know, he has 10,000 Dollars in one bank, then he owns many houses, and has money invested also in other places. He also owns a lot of land, 400 acres. I help sell merchandise in the store. He has a shoe and boots business; he buys and resells them.

I would like to ask you once more to send a girl over, if possible, who can bring plums. I am dressed here nicer than at home. I got a jacket for 18 Dollars. I would like to know whether or not my brother is in the war. We know more about the war than you do, although Pomeroy is 1000 miles from New York. If a girl comes over, let her bring 100 cigars for me and for Henry Dilcher. Put them in the bottom of the trunk; we'll pay for them when she gets here. Here they cost 4-5 times as much; please let her bring them. My uncle owns about 75-80,000 Talers.

A. Dilcher

Greetings to you and to all relatives, especially to brother Wilhelm.
A. Dilcher

Letter from Andreas to Harle, October 20, 1872

Your letter arrived quite some time ago already but I was unable to reply immediately because we have been very busy since Heinrich and I are always alone in the store. Almost every day my uncle goes to Clifton, W. Virginia; he is the manager of salt works there, in which he has invested money. And mortgages too. Here he receives 100 Dollars a month. Don't be angry with me for not having written sooner; it was just not possible. It is raining this morning, and so I have a little time to write a few lines. These days I have very little time; Heinrich will soon go to school in New Hampshire, almost 1200 miles from here. Then I will have to mind the store alone. But I like it very much here. In 2 or 3 weeks I go to Cincinnati with my uncle to buy merchandise. We have the largest shoe store in this town. But I hope that you will send a picture of my brother Wilhelm, or else this will be the last letter you get from me.

Dear Parents, what joy it would be, for me as well as for you, if I could spend only one evening with you. Write all the news that happened in Harle. Today is my birthday, October 20$^{th}$, and I am turning 18. How are all my brothers and sisters? I wish I could see them all again, happy and healthy.

Write as soon as possible.
Greetings from your son and brother
Andreas Dilcher

Say hello to George Ebert and tell him to write.

Letter from Andreas to Harle, June 27, 1873

This morning I received your dear letter. I am very happy that it left you in good health. I am also doing very well in my new business. I already told you in another letter that I'm no longer with my uncle. I like it very much here. But the longing for home is still within me. George Ebert's letter has also arrived. Tell him that I will write to him as soon as I have a little time.

Dear Parents, enclosed I am sending you the picture of myself and my fianc\'ee. Her name is Katie Miller and she is now 16 years old. She speaks very little German. I have now been going with her for a year. She bought me a golden ring for 22 Dollars. She is not here right now; she went for a visit, 36 miles away. Next week I'll go there to pick her up. I am already far enough in my studies that I am a doctor's aid and earn a very good salary. I met the girl that May [of last year]. I had several piano students. I gave her piano lessons and taught her for free; she lived with her aunt then. Now I have to study so much that I don't get much time to write. It is now 11 p.m., and I just finished studying. I bet that if you were to meet me now, you wouldn't recognize me. I already wrote to my godfather 2 weeks ago.

I am also a bookkeeper for a doctor here; he too pays well, so that I get by quite well. I wish I could be with you this October 20$^{th}$ when I turn 20; that day we will get married. I often remember my mother's words: Money and possessions can be taken away, but not learning. Most of the time I am alone in the store. We have now an outbreak of cholera here, and I have to go out every day to visit patients. This week I have to amputate the right leg of a 13-year old child. That is very hard, although I amputated a leg before.

I am healthy and happy, which I hope is also the case with you. You must excuse my poor writing; it was done in a hurry.

Address:
Mr. Andreas Dilcher
c/o A.W. Seebohm
Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio

Write as soon as possible, for in 2 months I will probably go to university to get my papers as doctor and pharmacist.

Your son and brother
Andreas Dilcher

Letter from Henry to Harle, April 7, 1889

I can't imagine what the problem might be that I haven't heard anything from my sister. She was always very regular with her letters, but now I haven't heard from her in a long, long time. What the reason for this could be, I don't know; that's why I request some information from you.

I had long promised to visit her, but unfortunately it didn't work out. For me, things are moving backwards rather than ahead; for almost a year now I have been sick, and I'm even nearly blind. But tomorrow I'm leaving for Cincinnati to see a doctor who will operate on my eyes. With God's help I will improve, the Lord alone is my hope. Enough of this. Please write what your sister Maria does and how she is doing, for she hasn't been writing to me. I hope she is well. Be so kind and write a detailed letter. Otherwise we can't complain; if only I were well again and had light. How are all my other relatives? Please convey to them my greetings and those of my wife. I request an early reply.

This from your uncle and family,
Heinrich Dilcher

Link to the original letter: Page 1 - Page 2.

Letter written by Johann Heinrich (in Harle), September 28, 1852

Harle, September 28, 1852
Dear Brother!

We have now received 4 letters from you and learned from them with great joy that you and your dear family are well. The Lord may give that these few lines of affection may reach you and your loved ones, for we already sent two letters, none of which have arrived, as was clear from your last letter of August 9 of this year; we are very sorry about that. Therefore I take up my pen once again to inform you, dear Brother, about everything important that happened here in our family since your departure.

Dear Brother, you asked that your dear Father may write to you. However, he is not able to do so: for on April 5 of this year he has been dead 5 years already. Thus, if the Good Lord should gracefully accept us in Heaven, we hope by the Grace of God to meet him there again. And also my dear wife Anna Katharina, née Neumeier of Lendorf, has been dead 4 years this past April 4; she had to give up the ghost in childbed in the worst of pain. She left me a girl who is now already 8 years old, but she is so week and wretched that we have to carry her to and from school. I have now been married again for 3 years, to your godfather Wilhelm Faber's daughter Anna Elisabeth of Sipperhausen. With her I have a boy who will be 2 years old this Christmas, and soon a second child will be born, if this is God's will. If it is a boy, I invite you to be his godfather. Also, your oldest sister Anna Catharina of Gensungen has 3 children, the oldest son of whom has gone abroad. And your brother-in-law Adam Wickert with your dear sister Martha Elisabeth now have 4 children, 3 girls and a boy, who until now are all healthy and well.

All of us, dear Brother, your whole family here, are, as far as I know, healthy and well. I could tell you many more things from here: alone the space does not allow me to write much more. However, I want to write a few more things, in particular that a railway has been built through Kurhessen, from Kassel to Frankfurt, through Gensungen, Wabern and Borken, and another one from Kassel to Eisenach and Berlin, going past Melsungen. Also, the price of grain has been very high since 1846, which is a heavy burden for the poor people! And what was worse, dear Brother, in the year 1848 there was a revolution all over Germany, and also in our fatherland. But, thank God, it was put down by foreign military, namely by Bavarian soldiers, some of whom we have billeted for 8 weeks. But many towns and villages and many families have suffered and have been thrown back. And because of this our own military had to suffer greatly; because of the uprisings they had to march first to Baden, and from there to Schleswig-Holstein and Denmark, to reestablish law and order. Many, many people lost their lives. Afterwards several families from here left for America, such as Conrad Meier, Johannes Herwig and Georg Hense with their families, and also many young fellows and young girls, too numerous to mention them all by name.

And finally, beloved Brother, I must ask you kindly to obtain and send to me an official statement about your present assets; I will need it for the closing [of your affairs here].

Also, your dear brother Jost Heinrich in Pomeroy wrote on March 22, 1852.

(No signature; probably not mailed)