HTML: 3A 1870-1872
<T128>To Mrs. Karoline Gerstenberg in Kummerfeld near Pinneberg near Hamburg, Germany.
Jan 10, 1870.
Dear Daughter! Christmas and the beginning of a new year is suited more than any other time to assemble all the loved ones around oneself—even if only in spirit—. On Dec. 27 [F.A.M. 65th birthday] and on Jan. 1 I started a new year and I have all the reasons to be happy and contented. The only thing that troubled my heart was that I missed on both days a sign from you. My two last letters both stayed unanswered. I therefore write once again, and if I will receive no answer either, I am going to erase you from the number of my children and try to wipe the memory of you out of my thinking.
Your Father, F.A.M.
The Postmaster of Pinneberg is most politely beseeched to deliver this letter personally to my daughter.
Mr. E. Steiger, No. 22 & 24 Franklin St., N.Y.
Jan 19, 1870.
I happened to get your ‘Literary Monthly Report’ in my hands, and I found announced the ‘Book of the World for 1870.’ Please send me a sample for the enclosed 25 cts. and if it will be according to my expectations I am going to send you the full price.
Respectfully …
<Written in English.> Editor, La Crosse Republican.
22 Jan 1870 [excerpt].
… I must believe that the Nord Stern, which has several times spoken against a protective tariff, speaks only in the interest of a certain party. I cannot believe that he is ignorant of the great trial that has been made in our mother country. Has he never heard of the German Toll-Verein—the Union of the States for a protective tariff?
When Russia and Prussia drove the great Conqueror, Napoleon the first, back to his den, (I was then a boy about eight years old and saw from my native hills the battle of Bautzen and the flashes from the cannons of the fighting armies, and counted 17 villages the same night in flames marking the course of the retreating French army.) and peace reigned again, there were very poor times in Prussia; all Germany was flooded with English dry goods. … Prussia … had a minister who was a great financier. … He conceived the idea of a protective tariff. … The smaller neighboring states … one after another joined Prussia and I believe nearly all Germany is united in the Great German Toll Union. The German states, formerly poor and dependent on England’s manufactures, now compete successfully. …
<T128, cont.> Mr. E. Steiger, N.Y.
M.P. Feb 16, 1870.
Last week I received one of your monthly reports by mail and this week arrived also the "Book of the World," but without color pictures, which—according to the table of contents, belongs to the flower pot. I therefore will send you this paper back. I suspect that the picture was torn out by somebody from the post office, but it did not happen at the Post station here, as I picked it up as soon as the mail arrived.
The "Book of the World" costs, according to the notice on the cover, five silver nickels. It can be ordered for that price from all bookstores here and abroad without a higher price, and is delivered into the house—postage paid. You, however, sell it for 25 cts., sent it without postage paid, what looks to me like swindle, as five silver nickels are not more than 16 cts. <T129> I expect that you will send me for the 25 cts. a complete copy.
F.A.M.
Mr. C. Schröter, Sauk City [WI].
M.P. M.C. W. March 19 [1870].
Dear Sir! The La Crosse ‘Nordstern’ has introduced me (in the issue from March 10) to your name and job, and as we have the same conceptions, but I am standing here all alone, I cannot suppress the desire to get to know you better. My religion and conviction have been formed entirely within myself without having heard or read anything about it; yes, I even did not know there existed other people who had the same or similar ideas as I. I however often felt the want to connect myself with people of the same way of thinking against the stupidity, the grumblers, and the ministers. I am unfortunately already an old man (65) and the time of my work cannot naturally last more very long, but I have five cheerful children from three to 10 years, and for their sake I want to live still so long until their reasoning is educated and formed, and it would be a great help for me to know that I could bring them together with some enlightened people.
As I saw from the ‘Nordstern,’ there are in your region so-called free communities, as whose founder and leader you are named. I would be very glad if you would let me know some more details about them and your principles and ideas.
With my respect to you, Your F.A.M.
Mr. J. Ulrich, La Crosse.
M.P. March 30, 1870.
Dear friend and patron! Would you please make room for the enclosed announcement on the front page of the ‘Nordstern?’ Three times will be sufficient. Yesterday I received a letter from E. Schröter. You can count on me as a brother fighter against darkness and superstition.
With my friendship …
Mr. Karl Frölich, La Crosse.
April 7, 1871 [Note gap in dates.].
I received your letter of March 31, but it was too late to answer it and to send it by return mail. I don’t have any ‘Goldlack’ [wallflowers] but I wrote for it to N.Y., and as it will be blossoming only next year, it will still arrive on time. Besides the kinds of seeds printed on the list, I can still recommend you the kinds listed below. I will be in Sparta next week, and letters to me, care of Caspar Bedenk, Sparta, Wisc., <T130> will be answered by me right there, and the ordered seeds sent right away. We receive mail only twice a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays.
With my friendly wishes …
[List of seeds.].
<Written in English.> H. Crouse.
May 2, 1871
[Best wishes on birth of boy, presumably Ed. (Relations between F.A.M. and his brother-in-law seem quite cordial.)]
<T130, cont.> Mr. Ulrich, La Crosse, Nordstern.
Dec. 16, 1871.
Friend Ulrich. If I can obtain the ‘Book of the World’ through your bookstore, please send me as soon as fitting the first paper for 1871. If not, please let me know so I can turn to Steiger.
With my friendly wishes …
Mr. Karl Friedrich Meissner, care of Karoline Gerstenberg, Kummerfeld near Pinneberg.
Dec. 27, 1871.
Dear Brother Karl! Believing that you are still alive (you are four years younger than I), I write these lines to you on my 67th birthday, wishing to hear how you are doing and how your life is. I have heard from Kummerfeld that your wife and children are dead. I am now—as I mentioned before—already 67 years old, and enjoy still a very good health.
I am living in the country, about as in Kummerfeld, and do some farming and raise seeds. The region here and Schönbach [where they grew up—LPM] are very much alike. The climate in summer is however much warmer, so that we can raise corn. I have a beautiful spring in my garden, and a nice trout pond. I make with my hands’ work a living for myself, my wife, and my children: Ernest, Adolph, Dorothea, Carl, and August. The oldest is 12 and the youngest five years old. They are all cheerful boys and a girl, who tear up in their happy wildness three times as many clothes as would be necessary, or as their mother can repair. And as clothes and other things are pretty expensive here, you can believe me that it is not easy to care for so many from one man’s work, but we don’t suffer want of anything.
I have received a letter from Uncle Karl some years ago, which he had written shortly before his death. I have received letters from Schönbach from Traugott Jähne, Volkmar Jähnicher, and others; also a beautiful copy of Grandfather’s picture in the church. … [A portrait of Christian Friedrich Meißner (1721-1802), who was minister when the present church building was constructed, is still hanging (1989) in the Schönbach church, opposite a portrait of Martin Luther. These portraits were said to have been commissioned by a relative in the early 1800s.] … and pictures of the church and other parts of the village; also branches from our apple tree that gave us our Christmas apples, some of which I planted here.
If you are—as I have reason to believe—all alone in the would, it would <T131> please me and us all very much if you would make up your mind to come over here and to live with us. I will give you the gardening here and I will manage the farm work. You don’t need to worry about living troubles; we also have enough to eat. We have butchered more than 1000 lb. of meat.
Every year thousands of people come over here from Germany. I cannot understand that none of my relatives decides to do the same. If nothing interferes, I can have answer from you in four weeks and can write you again if you want to come still this spring.
With a brotherly greeting, I remain—your F.A.M.
<Written in English.>
8 Jan 1872 [excerpt].
… Your way of teaching is pretty correct, and I myself have tried to introduce it in our school but without avail; our women teachers are too lazy—they don’t care if the children learn anything or not. And the children having their time not occupied get into mischief.
<T131, cont.> To August Gebhardt, Quedlinburg.
Jan 24, 1872.
Dear Sir! Last year I was hindered by the war to get my need of seeds from you. I have waited this year in vain for your seed list until it nearly got too late. I therefore hope that you fulfill my orders as soon as possible, and ask three months time for paying. Send them as always to Konstantin Württemberger in Bremen and mark the box F.A.M., Sparta, Wisc. Besides, I want to ask you not to substitute a kind of seeds under the wrong name if you are out of one kind or the other.
With my friendly greetings, …
La Crosse, ‘Nordstern.’.
Jan 27, 1872.
Friend Ulrich. I did not like the ‘Book of the World,’ because its contents is neither liberal nor instructive. Please send me therefore the ‘Nordstern’ instead; old friends are the best in the end.—.
I was a short time ago in Sparta’s paper mill in order to buy paper for my seed capsules, but they produce right now nothing but straw paper; even the paper dealers had nothing. I need a sort of pretty thin paper, preferably yellow, red, or green, for flower seed capsules; and a stronger sort for vegetable seeds. But both sorts must be sized [treated] so one can write well on them. Don’t you want to send me some samples together with your next ‘Nordstern?’.
With my friendly wishes …
<T132> Mr. August Gebhardt, Quedlinburg.
Jan 31, 1872.
Dear Sir! In order to be sure, I will send you today again a copy of my letter and the list of seeds that I mailed to you last week.
With my friendly greetings …
<Written in English.> Henry Crouse.
Feb 1872 [excerpt].
... Your oldest both are girls.
<Written in English.> To Brother Henry.
Feb 1872. [excerpt].
… Now I will make a few remarks to your letter on Ernst [sic] and Adolf[sic]. The latter is not going to school because I need him at home. … I do not agree with you to keep children reading the same book over and over again until they know it by heart. That is tiresome. Besides his school books, I encourage Ernie to read at home in newspapers, books about gardening, stories, law books, etc. Klaus [?] has a boy 14 years old who considers himself a great scholar. He goes to H. Cremer’s school, but when he gets another book in his hands besides his reader, he goes blank. …
<T132, cont.> Mr. Beyer Shaper & Co, 616 North 5th Str., St. Louis, Mo.
February 7, 1872.
I received your catalog and, in order to repay your kindness at least partly, I beseech you to send me the small items listed below as soon as possible; celery seeds only then if your are convinced that it is bulb celery and not "Brant" or stalk celery. I have ordered my true need already from Germany; maybe more in another year. …
Charles Helmuth, N.Y.
February 28, 1872.
I expect a box with seeds from Bremen. Please mail it as soon as possible to Sparta, Wisc., by ‘People’s Dispatch.’ I send you enclosed $10 for the expenses. Make your bill as cheap as possible. The remaining amount is going to be sent to you right after receiving your bill.
With my best wishes.
Mr. Karl Frölich, La Crosse.
March 20, 1872.
I will send you today by mail: 12 pkg. vegetable seeds @ five cts, $0.60; [?] bean seeds .. $0.10; [?] flower seed (5 pkt. 25 cts.) $0.60; [Total] $1.30.
I expect any day now Stocks, Goldlack [wallflowers], and beautiful filled [double] garden carnations from Germany. I have at least the news that they are on the way. As soon as they arrive, I will execute your remaining order and also one pkg. Goldlack that I owe you from last year.
I have included with the seeds a list. Maybe you still find something you could use. I also would like you to recommend me to your friends. I will not forget about the celery.
Adolph Heiser, Esq., Jefferson, M.C., Wisc.
March 20, 1872.
Friend Heiser! Please read Page 989 Revised Stahlen [?], Sections 27 & 28 of Chapter 176. If you want to go this way, come as soon as possible to me and we will go to Krähenbühl and see what we can do. F.A.M.
<T133> Michael Belireus, Angelo, M.C., Wisc.
March 25, 1872.
Dear friend! Yesterday I received after many troubles your ‘Fies [files?] on the Road Appeal Case’ and send you these enclosed with $1.50. Please let me know of their arrival, that I know they did not get lost on the way.
F.A.M.
Mr. Frank Delle at Mahony [?], Vernon Co., Wisc.
May 23, 1872.
Friend Delle! My sow had on May 8, eight beautiful Chester White pigs: two sows and six boars. I will sell these [when they are] four to five weeks old for $2 apiece. I want to keep one sow for myself. If you want all or some of them for this price, you surely can earn some money, as there is a bigger demand at your place.
With my friendly wishes, F.A.M.
<T384> [Loose letter]. Mr. F.A. Meissner, Mount Pisgah, Sparta P.O.—Wis.
New York, May 30, 1872.
I received together with your letter of the 26th a money order of $6.50 for the Bank of North America, N.Y., as payment for the expenses of your last box with seeds.
Respectfully and devotedly, Chas. Helmuth, P.O. Box 4336.
<T133, cont.> Mr. August Gebhardt in Quedlinburg.
May 16, 1872.
I send you enclosed your assets minus three [?] nine [?] in a check for Ulel and Pillman in Brunswick for 22 Talers Prussian currency, and I would like you to confirm their arrival. I had a very bad luck with the seeds this year as they only arrived on May 2. I received your bill from Febr. 21 very quick, and if you would have mailed the box so fast, it might have arrived by the same steamer as the letter. As you did not even include a list of the seeds either, I ask you to send me still one, that I will be able to make my order list from this one, if the catalog from next year should not arrive in time. I would also like it very much if you would send me an issue of a good German gardening paper.
With my best wishes, F.A.M.
G.H. Besensteil, Freeport, Ill.
M.P. M.C. W. August 15, 1872.
Dear Sir! Some days ago I received a letter from Mr. August Gebhardt in Quedlinburg, with whom I had been in a business connection since several years. He wants me to take over the sale of his crop of sugar beet seeds in America. He writes besides that:
<T134> "Last year Mr. G.H. Besensteil in Freeport, Il., brought as a trial 7,000 lb. of sugar beet seeds from me; I corresponded with him also about the contract of a new matter. I would like it if you would take at once the pending affair into your hands and bring it to a good end.."
I am soon going to write again to Mr. Gebhardt. I wanted to inquire whether I could do something to the furtherance of your both interests. The prices are, as he gives me:
White, fine leafy cultivated Silesian [..?].
Best Imperial [..?].
New white Vilmarin [..?].
Embulkage in sacks for 100 lbs. [..?] or in double sacks the double price.
The amount in three monthly checks to a German bank has to be added to the orders.
This last condition seems to be OK, but I think it is going to aggravate every business, or make it nearly impossible. One cannot expect that a sugar manufacturer from here has funds in a German bank from which he can draw, and should he buy here a cheque for a German bank, he has to pay cash and has nothing from the three month space. But this is a thing which I might not be able to understand. It seems to me only, that—if Mr. Gebhardt does not want to trust the local sugar manufacturer (which all are, after all, import establishments) that they are going to pay him after the arrival of the seeds—he cannot expect either that these send him the money in advance and wonder whether they will receive the seeds for it in return or not. I would like it very much if you could tell me more about this point, as I don’t want to waste my time and work without a prospect of success.
Expecting a kind reply, I sign respectfully …
G.H. Besensteil, Freeport, Ill.
M.P. M.C. W. Sept. 2, 1872.
Dear Sir! With reference to my letter of August 16, I want to tell you that according to a letter that I just received from Mr. Gebhardt, the continuing dry heat has entirely ruined the hope of a good crop of sugar beet seeds. Big areas are entirely burnt, and the few remaining seeds give a poor result. In the best case only 500 <T135> instead of 1000 per ‘morgen’ [a German field measure—M. Camphäusen]. Mr. Gebhardt sees himself therefore forced to raise his prices as follows […].
As the prices probably will still be higher, because the supply won’t cover the demand, you maybe can make use of the notes above.
Expecting a reply soon, I sign … F.A.M.
Beet Sugar Factory, Baraboo, Sauk County, Wisc.
M.P. M.C. Wisc. Sept 2, 1872.
In the beginning of last month, I received a letter from Mr. August Gebhardt in Quedlinburg in Prussia, with whom I stand since several years in business connection, whereby he asks me to take over the sale of his sugar beet seeds in the region here. He made at that time the following prices: […] According to a letter from Mr. Gebhardt which I just received, the continuing dry heat has entirely ruined the hope of a good sugar beet seed crop and the remaining seeds give only a poor yield. In the best case they give only 500 instead of 1000 lb. per ‘morgen.’ Mr. Gebhardt sees himself therefore forced to raise his prices and gives the following […]. In case you want to make use of the present, still cheap, notes (as one can expect that the prices are still going to rise, because the supply won’t cover the demand), you can make your order through me or turn directly to Mr. Gebhardt.
Mr. Besensteil in Freeport, Ill., received last year as a trial 7,000 lb. of sugar beet seeds from Mr. Gebhardt, and I am corresponding with him on account of a new delivery.
Respectfully … F.A.M.
<T136> Portland, Sept. 6, 1872.
Friend Hankee. Mr. Hollister, Capt. Wilson, and Sheriff Johnson were here, and would have visited you if they would have had time. They want me to tell you, that—if you are interested in the ‘Reform Movement’—it is very necessary that you will honor the mass convention, which will take place coming Wednesday afternoon at two o’clock in the Court House in Sparta, by your presence and to bring along as many people with the same way of thinking as possible. On this day the Reform or Greeley Party will be organized in this county, and will elect delegates for the Congressional Convention, which will take place the next day.
With my friendly greetings. F.A.M.
Mr. August Gebhardt in Quedlinburg in Prussia.
M.P. Oct. 28, 1872.
As soon as I received your letter of July 20, I wrote at once to Mr. Besensteil and to the beet sugar factory in Sauk County. When I received your second letter of Aug. 8, I wrote again and informed both parties of the changed state of the prices. I waited in vain for an answer, which forces me to believe that I am of no use for you in this matter. Maybe both parties wrote directly to you.
In a letter dated May 26, I sent you your assets for the seeds you sent me in spring, in a cheque for Uhl & Pillerman in Braunschwieg [Brunswick], but I can only suppose that you received it.
Unfortunately, I see myself forced to tell you that you served me this spring worse than ever. you must have somewhere in your business bad workers, or else such cruel errors would be impossible. The red onions were old seeds that did not come up, the straw yellow onions were red, the leek seeds were old, white radishes were red, etc. etc. etc. … The seeds cost me in freight and customs at least as much as the sales price, and it is too bad to have to pay still customs and freight for old onion seed, of which every old woman knows that it won’t come up. I sowed myself a big place full of leek and hoped to have a crop of at least $20 value, and got only a few miserable plants.—You must not believe that I would accuse your seeds of anything if I would not be entirely convinced that it is the seed’s fault and <T137> not the climate’s or the country’s. We have had here in this region an excellent wheat crop; one bushel (60 lb.) costs $1.10 . The flower seeds also had a good crop, but something is always missing.
With my friendly greeting, …
Mr. Wilhelm Freise in La Crosse.
Nov. 11, 1872.
Dear Sir, I regretted reading about your accident in the ‘Nordstern,’ but read with pleasure that it did not turn out as bad as it could have, and you are already better.
According to our contract, I want to tell you that I can give you the following garden products: …
The dried herbs are all especially beautiful. If you can make use of the whole supply, I will deliver it free to your house in La Crosse. If you can only make partly use of it, I am going to send you the wanted things to the railroad depot in Sparta.
With my friendly greetings, …
Mr. Wilhelm Freise in La Crosse.
M.P. M.C. Nov. 20, 1872.
I have received your letter of Nov. 12, and I have packed a box with the herbs you ordered, which I am going to bring tomorrow to Sparta and send it to you. In order to fill up the empty space in the box, I have included 1-1/2 lb. of marjoram and 11 lb. of sage, which I ask you to sell for me to one of the butchers, if you cannot use them for your retail trade. The butcher who lives northwest from your store told me last year that he will pay gladly $1 per lb., if I want to bring him marjoram. The box therefore contains … .
Please write the above amount in my favor. Maybe I am going to come once personally to La Crosse this winter to pick it up.
With my friendly wishes, … F.A.M.
Mr. Karl Frölich, La Crosse.
Nov. 20, 1872.
My celery is a little bit small this year on account of the drought, but the bulbs are healthy and smooth. I would have sent you already something during these days, if the frost would not have surprised me, but I will make up for the lost time as soon as we will have milder weather. I have beautiful big smooth roots <T138> of parsley for five cts. per lb., and celery for four cts. per lb. Could you and Mr. Ulrich use enough from both things in order to pay for one year for the ‘Nordstern?’
With my friendly wishes …
F. & J. Becker, La Crosse.
Nov. 20, 1872.
Dear Sirs! I saw from the ‘Nordstern’ that you deal in vegetables. Could you not use 50 lb. garlic for 20 cts. per lb., and 50 to 100 lb. beautiful big smooth parsley roots for four cts. per lb.? I will send what you want as soon as the weather allows it—postage paid—to Sparta to the express office. A little frost will damage both things as much as nothing.
Mr. Karl Friedrich Meissner, gardener with Mr. de Ray in Ütersen near Altona, Hamburg, Germany.
Dec. 1872.
Dear Brother. Nearly a year passed since I wrote a long friendly letter to you and addressed it to Lina to have it delivered. It is nearly impossible for me to believe that—if you received your letter—you did not think your only brother worth of an answer.
I therefore beseech you once again by these lines to shake you[rself] up from your indifference and to let me know how you are doing.
Your only brother, F.A.M.
M.P., Dec. 8, 1872.
Dear Mr. Frölich. When I wrote my last letter, I expected for sure that the coldness would be only a passing announcement of the approaching winter, and when we had some milder climate last week, I saw may prediction become already fulfilled. Already yesterday, I made preparations in order to visit tomorrow my customers in Sparta, and to take also the celery along which you were so kind to order. But today the wind is blowing so cold from the northwest, that the winter means it serious. I therefore include $2.50 with the request to pay for me the ‘Nordstern’ for the current year.
With my friendly wishes, …
<T139> William Hankee, Portland.
Dec. 14, 1872.
Friend Hankee! You will find enclosed a small bill for the town. Don’t you want to do me the favor and have yourself an order made for it and to use it toward my taxes?
With my friendly wishes …
The Town of Portland; to F.A. Meissner, Nov. 5, 1872, one day as Clerk of Election, $2.00
To the Postmaster at Brunswick, Germany.
[Dec. 14, 1872.]
Dear Sir, If I am not mistaken, there are many garden seeds raised around Brunswick. Would you please do me the favor and address the two enclosed letters to two different seed stores? Ready to do you a favor any time, I sign …
To a seed store in Brunswick.
Dec. 14, 1872.
I would like you to send me as soon as possible your latest vegetable and flower seed catalog, with a list of the prices. Address: F.A.M., M.P., M.C., Wis., N.A.
HTML: 3A 1870-1872
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