FAITH, FAMILY AND MARRIAGE: Nana and GrandpaaEUR(tm)s Legacy

By Donna Jean Niemeir

Nana (Edna) was born in 1888, and Grandpa (Edwin) was born in 1891. Their story starts back in 1861 in Dierdorf, Germany, with their grandparents.

Their family generations lived through immigration to America, the Civil War, a new century, World War I, the Great Depression, and World War II. They lived in the midst of major difficulties in their lives.

Learning from their parents and grandparents, Edwin and Edna each developed a strong personal faith and a close-knit family and marriage. With God's wisdom, they passed down that legacy to their children and grandchildren and many future generations.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jan 24, 2024
• ISBN: 9798888326282

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FAITH, FAMILY AND MARRIAGE: Nana and GrandpaaEUR(tm)s Legacy

Donna Jean Niemeir

ISBN 979-8-88832-627-5 (paperback)

ISBN 979-8-88832-628-2 (digital)

Copyright © 2023 by Donna Jean Niemeir

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

All biblical citations are taken from either the King James Version (KJV) or New American Standard Bible (NASB) of the Holy Bible.

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Books by Donna Jean Niemeir

Dedication

In Memory

In Gratitude

Author's Note

Part 1

From Generation to Generation January 1861 to December 1885

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Part 2

From Generation to Generation August 1888 to July 1909

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Part 3

Generation to Generation August 1910 to June 1935

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Part 4

From Generation to Generation March 1936 to July 1948

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Part 5

From Generation to Generation April 1950 to August 1982

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Epilogue: Nana and Grandpa's Legacy

Chapter 41

A Granddaughter's Memories

About the Author

Books by Donna Jean Niemeir

Harvey House Sisters: A Grandmother's Legacy

Faith, Family, and Marriage: Nana and Grandpa's Legacy

Dedication

Our grown children, Dan and Amy, who are now in their fifties, have been the joy of our lives. We raised them in a Christian home with moral principles, integrity, and compassion for others.

In the midst of homeschooling and a busy life of chores on our small homestead, they both grew up having a strong personal faith of their own. They developed a love for God, family and country, along with good work ethics, courage, strength, and integrity to pass on to others in the midst of the stresses of life.

Our son has ten children and fourteen grandchildren as of this writing. Dan reminds me so much of my grandfather Edwin, in build and character. He has a strong faith and leadership ability with his family, church, and business.

Our daughter has six children and six grandchildren. Amy reminds me of Nana. She is like her great-grandmother Edna, strong but quiet. She has guided her family in truth and righteousness and likes to be in the background serving others.

Both our children are leaving their legacies to their families, just as their great-grandparents did. Generation to generation, the legacy of personal faith continues.

Choose you this day whom ye will serve; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

—Joshua 24:15

In Memory

My paternal grandparents, Edwin and Edna Renner, lived from 1888 to 1982. They had a real impact on my young life—and still do even in my older years.

As I reflect on their life of faith, family, and marriage, I realize how we are all influenced by past generations as well as future generations. Our past legacies help make up who we are, while the legacies we leave influence generations to come.

Everyone has a different life story. Everyone leaves a legacy. I am so blessed and so thankful to God that my grandparents, Edwin and Edna Renner, passed on their Christian heritage of a strong personal faith, family, and marriage to their twelve grandchildren.

We thank you, Nana and Grandpa, for your lives and your influence on our lives, which in turn influences further generations.

In Gratitude

Thank you to our wonderful daughter, Amy, who has worked tirelessly typing my first and now my second book. She is our miracle baby and has been a faithful daughter and friend, mentoring me with her knowledge and skill of technology. She spent many hours helping with research, typing, and going through the editing process with our publisher.

Even when she had her own commitments, she always found time to type, cook, clean house, and work outside: weeding, pruning, harvesting, and canning. She has been my encourager in this process.

Also, thank you to our son, Dan, who took on the project of scanning the pictures for all my books at high resolution.

He has been a constant role model to our whole family. His Christian character and testimony of faith, family, and marriage also leaves a legacy for future generations.

God certainly blessed us when He gave them to us to raise for His glory.

Thank you both for all you do, especially your unconditional love for your parents. We love you!

Author's Note

The Lord gave me a nudge in the spring of 2021 to start doing research for this second book. At that time, I had no idea that my first book, Harvey House Sisters: A Grandmother's Legacy, would be published.

Even though I already had reams of family history collected when I was young, my first impulse was to say no! It would be too much work, too much emotion, too much time, too hard on my brain and eyesight with my failing health. All the excuses I could think of went through my mind.

The Lord kept nudging me. Well, I thought, I will just start a little research with Amy's help, of course, and see where it leads. That is also how I started my first book. Still, I made no commitment for this second story.

Then, after two months, I started getting excited. I realized everyone has a different story. This book would be different from my first book. I still did not have a clue where to start Nana and Grandpa's story. There were so many past generations. Where and how do I start?

Then the Lord gave me the insight I needed during one of my many sleepless nights. Yes! That's it! Weave in all the generations! And Nana and Grandpa's story came to life.

In writing their story, I came to realize that even at my age of seventy-five, I still have lots to learn!

I have taken the liberty of fictionalizing some of the settings for Nana and Grandpa's story in order to bring continuity to the real facts of their lives. These facts were found in our family history books that I put together in the 1990s and from stories told to me by Nana and Grandpa throughout my life.

Part 1

From Generation to Generation January 1861 to December 1885

Chapter 1

So these days were to be remembered and celebrated throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city.

—Esther 9:28a

January 1861

Dierdorf, Germany

Elizabeth, I am so nervous! Do I look all right? Genthrina turned, patting her dark hair in place.

"You look very nice, Genthrina. Your wedding attire is just perfect. I really like the style of your black skirt. The way the back of your long black jacket swoops down into a ruffle is very fetching.

Smile now! This is a happy wedding day for us both! Elizabeth swirled around for Genthrina's benefit, trying to get her friend to smile.

"Well, Elizabeth, you are a natural beauty and look very fetching yourself in your wedding dress. All that white lace against the black really brightens up your dress. I do believe both of our new outfits will last us many years for church as well.

I like your hair up, too, Elizabeth. Oh, bother! I should have put mine up also, instead of leaving it down long like a schoolgirl! Genthrina always second-guessed her decisions. Now she smiled shyly at her friend.

Elizabeth put her hand on Genthrina's arm to reassure her. We look just fine for our double wedding ceremony, dear. Now, let's both take a deep breath and go into the church service. I am very sure our dear young men are waiting for us! God will help us adjust to our new lives, and we will always be friends and distant cousins.

Oh, how true, Elizabeth! I am so thankful we have had each other growing up. Now we are both twenty and marrying but have loads of memories together.

Don't forget, Genthrina, our young men have been friends for many years also. I am positive the friendship the four of us share will continue the rest of our lives. Elizabeth continued, Your young man, William, is older at twenty-eight but settled with a good job, making gunstocks here in Dierdorf. You will have a good life together.

"As you will, Elizabeth. Your friend Chris, at twenty-one years old, is a natural-born farmer working with his family. I guess you will be living in the country now on the family farm while I stay in the city.

Oh, how I will miss being neighbors! I will certainly look forward to seeing you and Chris at church on Sundays. Genthrina hugged her dear friend, and they walked arm in arm into the church to be married to their handsome young men. The ceremony would take place after the morning worship service. All the ladies from church were bringing dishes to share for a nice lunch reception after the ceremony.

An hour later, Pastor Schmidt spoke, "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today in the presence of God to witness the union of these two Christian couples in a double wedding ceremony. These fine Christian men and women have grown up in our church. Now, they feel that our Lord has brought them together for life.

It is my great honor to bring Elizabeth Stahl and Chris Wiesemann and also Genthrina Stahl and William George Gerlach before you today. They have each expressed their desire to be joined in holy matrimony.

Turning to the young couples, Pastor Schmidt smiled briefly. "Elizabeth, your name means God's promise, and your name, Chris, means humorous. It is my prayer that you both remember this. As you make this commitment today, these words can bring harmony to your marriage."

Now Pastor Schmidt turned slightly and said, "Genthrina, your name means humble, and your name, William, means resolute. I pray also for you both that you will seek God's guidance to create a marriage filled with joy and happiness.

"God's Word says in Proverbs 12:4, ‘A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband.' Then in Ephesians 5, it talks of love in the Christian home. Ephesians 5:25 says, ‘Husbands, love your wives.' Your whole marriage relationship is to be lived in the presence of your Lord. I know personally that each of you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Now you each must dedicate your life and your marriage to Him."

The age-old words To have and to hold, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish till death do us part, to God's holy ordinance were repeated by Chris and Elizabeth in the solemn double ceremony.

Then William and Genthrina repeated their vows. Wedding rings were exchanged, and Pastor Schmidt pronounced both couples united in marriage.

Looking momentarily at his congregation, Pastor Schmidt said, Let us pray, and he bowed his head.

"Lord, we bring Mr. and Mrs. Chris Wiesemann and Mr. and Mrs. William Gerlach before You now. We ask Your richest blessings on these two newly married couples that have solemnized their marriage vows today.

"In the days to come, give them wisdom and understanding, happiness, and spiritual maturity as they blend their lives together.

"May Genthrina and William, along with Elizabeth and Chris, strive to always keep You at the center of their lives. May they honor You in all they do, all the decisions they make. May they teach the Gospel and all its spiritual truths to any children You may bless them with.

"May these newly married couples continue to give You praise and glory, even during the struggles of everyday life. May You continue to be the foundation of their marriages.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, what God has joined together, let no man put asunder. Amen.

Chris Wiesemann 21, Wedding, January 1861, Dierdorf, Germany

Elizabeth (Stahl) Wiesmann 20, Wedding, January 1861, Dierdorf, Germany

Chapter 2

This is the generation of those who seek Him,

Who seek Thy face, even Jacob.

—Psalm 24:6

June 29, 1868

Short Ridge, Indiana

Chris, meet your newest baby daughter, Sophia. Isn't she a beauty? Look at her dark hair and round face. Elizabeth lightly stroked her baby's rosy cheek, watching as Sophia moved her tiny lips.

She is a keeper for sure, Elizabeth. May I hold her? Transferring the tiny newborn to his right arm, Chris smiled. Thank you, Elizabeth, for this new little life. What an honor and responsibility we have raising these children to love God and to love others.

Elizabeth flashed Chris an adoring, though tired, smile. Thank you for being such a good father to all the children, Chris. They are growing up so fast.

Chris handed baby Sophia back into Elizabeth's waiting arms. "You will have your hands full with this new baby and our other three children, plus all your chores. I will also be needing William and Henry to help me more with the barn chores and the milking, plus all the fieldwork. With more horses now, it is all very time-consuming.

Elizabeth, I know the boys are only six and five years old, but I need to teach them to do more work around the homestead. You know yourself how they love the outdoors and helping me. Chris looked intently at Elizabeth. There is just not enough daylight time on this eighty-acre homestead for one man to accomplish all the work on his own.

I know, Chris. Elizabeth cuddled Sophia and slid down under the covers to get more comfortable. I am so tired right now. Can we talk about this later?

Leaning down close, Chris whispered in Elizabeth's ear, Of course, dear. I shouldn't have brought this up now. You rest, and I will get back out to the barn with the boys. We will be back in for noon dinner as usual. And Chris brushed a soft kiss across her cheek. Smiling to himself, he noticed she was already asleep.

After Chris left the house, Dora, the midwife, quietly puttered around mother and baby. She set the bedroom to rights and, noting that both of her patients were fast asleep, went back into the kitchen.

Dora noted that Elizabeth was typical of the hardworking homestead wives in the area. Dora respected all of them. She went to put more wood in the cookstove, made fresh coffee, and put more water on to heat for dishes from the pail in the corner. Dora thought of the Short Ridge area and the people that she served.

Theirs was a beautiful area for agriculture, lots of good farmland and low rolling hills. It was named for the superintendent of schools, who had established the high school four years earlier. The area was north of the county seat and the state capital of Indianapolis, making a fairly easy trip to town with a team and wagon for supplies. One could make the round trip in a day.

The Short Ridge area, as it had locally been called, lay between the large White River and Fall Creek. Lots of smaller tributaries and creeks kept the farms a fertile green even in the summer, along with the welcome summer rain showers.

The pesky chiggers, though, were a pain for folks and animals alike. They were tiny, red biting mites, not painful but intense, itchy like hives. They were very tiny, not seen until they clustered in groups on one's skin.

Elizabeth had told Dora that she had just made a hearty pot of chicken soup the day before. Dora brought that up from the cool cellar and set it on the right side of the large Majestic cookstove to slowly start warming. There was still plenty of homemade bread and butter to go along with the soup. That would fill all the empty stomachs in a few hours.

Dora knew that all the farm wives in the area she served were hardworking women. There was not much time for socializing with friends and neighbors, usually only at church on Sundays.

Farm life was not for the faint of heart. It required much hard work and long days. Not only did the women take care of their children and homes with all the responsibility of cooking, cleaning, and laundry, but the large outside gardens and small animals, like chickens, were usually the women's responsibility as well.

Milking was done by either the wife, children, or husband, depending on the size of the farm and the age of the children. Of course, all the milk had to be taken care of, cream separated, and butter made. Garden produce had to be harvested and put by for the winter. Not an easy task, even for those strong women.

Hearing the new baby sounds from the bedroom, Dora stepped in and smiled at Elizabeth. Well now, that rest was so good for you. I will just set this cup of nice Self-Heal herbal tea for you on your bedside table. Now, let me take Sophia and change her nappies. With Sophia in one arm, she deftly helped Elizabeth sit up against the pillows.

Now go ahead and enjoy your tea. It will help with the healing, you know. Dora turned to take care of Sophia. She adored bringing babies into the world for their parents. God had certainly blessed these parents with four children now. Dora didn't hurry with Sophia, wanting to give Elizabeth time to drink her tea. Dora also wanted a few minutes to cuddle this adorable and precious baby. Having no children of her own, Dora had a partial claim to each one she delivered.

Bringing baby Sophia back to Elizabeth to nurse, Dora commented, You are so blessed, Elizabeth. Another beautiful baby for you and Chris. You should be so thankful for a fairly quick and normal delivery with no surprises. You should be back on your feet soon. Have you made any plans for the next few days, dear?

Oh yes, Dora. Would you stop at Lena's on your way home? You know she is our closest neighbor to the east. Her twelve-year-old daughter, Bessie, is going to come and spend a few days helping me. Elizabeth repositioned baby Sophia and continued the age-old practice of nursing her baby. Bessie is a good girl, quite capable of helping wherever she is needed. I am so thankful she can come and that Lena will share her for a few days.

That evening after supper, and the children were tucked into their beds, Chris and Elizabeth reminisced about the seven years since they had been married back in Dierdorf. Hard to believe we have been here in America for four years already, Chris. Elizabeth sat rocking and cuddling Sophia. It was so hard making the crossing with William and Henry so young. I am so glad I was able to carry Mary full-term, and she wasn't born until later that year after we were settled here.

Chris, usually a quiet man, was talkative tonight. Yes, it was such an arduous journey with the young boys back in '63. Remember how hard it was just getting from Dierdorf, where we lived on the western side of Germany, up to the port of Bremen to the north? We almost changed our minds.

Oh, Chris, I most certainly do remember! William was only two years old and Henry barely one, and here I was, expecting our third baby. It was a challenge for sure. Carefully laying Sophia in her cradle, Elizabeth looked at Chris with a warm smile. I am glad we didn't turn back, Chris. You have worked hard and made a good life for us here.

Well, I was thinking the other day that we could have gone west instead of north from our farm in the District of Nevwied. That would have taken us to the port at Le Havre, France, on the English Channel. That would have saved us some of the ocean travel since Le Havre is five hundred miles from Bremen, Germany. Chris looked seriously at Elizabeth. Although the newspaper said there are still many people living in eastern and northern Germany that have even a longer trip through Hamburg. They use the Hamburg America Line of ships.

Elizabeth responded, We did take the shortest land route, Chris, even though it was a long, long transatlantic crossing. I will admit it was a hard fourteen weeks going through the North Sea and English Channel, and then clear across the Atlantic Ocean. Elizabeth gave a tired sigh. I am still glad we persevered. We have had a good life here in America, good friends now at church, and good neighbors.

Chris remarked, "You know, Elizabeth, the North German Lloyd Line had six, five hundred ton ships at the time we crossed on the Adler. Now I read in the paper last week that the Lloyd Shipping Line has just started another transatlantic crossing from Bremen to the port at Baltimore. That is in addition to all the ships going into New York like we did, through the Castle Gardens Receiving Station.

If we can ever talk Genthrina and William Gerlach into coming over to America, that is how they could come. There are so many people wanting to come to America from England, Ireland, and Germany that they are building faster steamships.

Chris yawned and continued, William and Genthrina's family could make the crossing in three weeks of good weather on one of those new steamers instead of the fourteen weeks that we endured. Next time you write, make sure to tell them that. Better yet, I will see if I can find that newspaper article and cut it out for you to mail with your next letter.

Smiling now, Chris said, I am glad you had another little girl, Elizabeth. You will need more help in the house with our growing family.

Yes, dear. Mary is almost four now, and she will be a big help with baby Sophia. You know it takes years and a lot of work training these children before they can help much! Elizabeth quietly laughed. "We do have a fine family and are truly blessed.

What about you, Chris? I know how you love this homestead, but can you handle all the work even with William and Henry helping more? They are so young. Elizabeth could see even before the new baby was born that their eighty-acre homestead with all the work involved for both of them was a huge undertaking. Every year, it seemed that there was more work than the year before. But Elizabeth also knew that her husband was a hardworking farmer with a stubborn streak. He would not change his mind. They were on the homestead to stay.

"We will make it, Elizabeth. I know the summer growing season is in full swing now. We will do the best we can, and as the children grow and are able to help more, I am sure it will become easier. I believe we are in the hardest years now, but we are still young, Elizabeth!

We dreamed so long of moving to America. Our original plans were to immigrate with my parents. Chris sighed. Of course, when they died within six months of each other, those plans changed. I still miss them, Elizabeth. They would have loved it here.

Mother and Father would be so happy for us, though, Chris. They would be so proud that you accomplished your dream here in America. They would have loved our children. I miss them too. Elizabeth fell quiet for a time, as did Chris.

I think Father would have approved of us going ahead with the plans we had all talked of, Chris said a few minutes later. Selling the farm in Dierdorf, along with our savings and the money from the sale of the stock, enabled us to pay for our passage and buy this eighty acres for two hundred dollars.

Don't forget, Chris, that you also built our home and bought supplies, along with our first livestock and seed. We were very blessed, and I am so thankful we had such a good start. Elizabeth picked up whimpering Sophia and sat back down in the rocking chair.

Yes, Elizabeth, I too am thankful. This land is good and fertile. Every year, I am learning more about the climate here and what crops grow best. I do love it here. Our start of quality Belgian horses will pay off long-term. Every aspect of farming takes a lot of work and time. It is hard setting priorities, Chris yawned again.

When will you start cutting hay? Elizabeth asked as she started nursing Sophia.

Next week, I think, Chris replied. It is late this year, due to such a rainy spring. If this warm, dry spell continues, we should be able to bring in a nice amount this year. The boys will be a big help with that project. It will probably be a month-long haying season. Come now, Elizabeth, morning comes early. We must get to bed.

Elizabeth nodded. Soon, dear, as soon as I finish with our new baby here. Go ahead, I will be just a few more minutes.

Knowing she would be up and down all night with the new baby, Elizabeth closed her eyes and relaxed more into the rocking chair. She had so enjoyed their visit tonight, a rare treat in their busy lifestyle. But she was so tired!

As her body relaxed and her mind became peaceful, Elizabeth prayed. Dear Lord, thank You for our new baby. Thank You for all my family and all the blessings You have bestowed upon us. Help me now as I am so very tired. Please give me strength and wisdom as I seek to raise our children to honor You. Each one is a miracle, a gift from You. I pray that each one will grow strong physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I want them to grow up serving You, knowing You, and depending on You as I do. Please help me in this great task. In Jesus's name. Amen.

*****

The next morning got off to a slow start, even with Bessie there to help with breakfast and the children. With a new baby in the house, the old routine was quickly disrupted.

Chris turned to the three older children at the breakfast table. William, after we finish our oatmeal, eggs, and biscuits this morning, I need you to haul some extra water for Mother from the well. She will tell you how much extra a baby's needs take. He winked at Elizabeth.

Now, Henry, will you please take the fresh eggs, milk, cream, and butter down to the cellar? You know where they all go to stay cool. Stack the basket of eggs on the shelf and put the rest in the pan of cool water. Mother will tell you if there is anything else to bring back up to the kitchen.

Both boys nodded and smiled good-naturedly at their father. They saw the twinkle in his eyes and suspected Father was up to something. Chris raised his eyebrows at the boys and returned their smiles.

Turning his attention now to little Mary, Chris said, Mary, I know you are Mother's big helper now.

Mary nodded eagerly. Yes, Father, I am a big girl now!

Yes indeed, you truly are! I need you to fly around quick and help Bessie clean up the kitchen. I am sure you can carry our breakfast dishes to the dry sink so they can be washed and even dry the dishes for Bessie. Chris patted his little girl on the head.

Elizabeth showed her pleasure with Chris's thoughtfulness and the children's extra help. She smiled warmly at all of them and, looking directly into Chris's still handsome face, said a soft, Thank you!

Chris spoke up again, looking at Elizabeth, Children, as soon as you have finished with the kitchen chores, meet me at the barn. I will be hitching up Pete and Penny to the wagon, and then we will go to town.

Amid the children's gleeful shouts of excitement at this rare treat, Elizabeth's surprise showed on her face. What are you up to now, Chris?

Just a little surprise, dear. I had planned to do this last month but held off with the wet weather. Now, today promises to be a nice warm day, and it will be a good outing for the children. Plus it will make the house a little quieter this first day, and you and Bessie won't have to go to all the work of fixing our noon dinner. I am sure you can do something simple just for the two of you. I hope you can get some extra rest, Elizabeth. And Chris patted her hand fondly.

Well, I do declare, I am very curious, Chris! Turning to take baby Sophia from Bessie's outstretched arms, Elizabeth commented wryly, Extra rest? With a newborn? She smiled at Chris and laughed softly.

Noting Chris was finished with his breakfast, Elizabeth turned to William. Nodding at him, Elizabeth said, William, you may get our Bible this morning and give it to Father.

After reading a verse in Psalms to the children, Chris said, It is time to hurry now, children. I will wait for you in the barn. Everyone scurried to do Father's bidding. They all loved surprises!

Elizabeth shooed her anxious husband out the door. She knew it would be a long day if he were to get to town and back with the children. Her men had already put in several hours of work doing all the morning chores and would be doing the same this evening. Kissing Chris goodbye, Elizabeth said, Go on now, we will be fine. A nice hot supper will be waiting when you all return.

Chapter 3

We will not conceal them from their children, But tell to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, And His strength and His wondrous works that He has done.

—Psalm 78:4

January 1869

Dierdorf, Germany

Dear Elizabeth and Chris,

Happy eighth anniversary! What fond memories we all have remembering our double wedding ceremony. Life has led us in different directions, but we hope to remedy that soon. More about that thought later.

Thank you for your letter dated last July. We received it late fall and have reread it many times. Always a joy to hear from you. Your letters are ever so interesting! We are relieved to know you are all well.

Congratulations on your new daughter, Sophia. What a blessing children are. A huge responsibility for us all, raising them to love God and to love others. I can just picture your older children helping with the farm work and the housework!

How is the new addition on your house coming? That was a wonderful surprise, Chris, for you to take the three children to town the day after Sophia was born. How thoughtful, and then to bring home a wagonload of lumber for a new addition! My, Elizabeth, I would have loved to see your surprised face when your family returned! Has there been time to finish the new addition over the winter?

Your horse farm sounds like it is prospering. I am sure you all devote many long hours of work endeavoring to make it succeed. We know what hard workers you both are, so you are probably making it a show place.

What flowers have you planted in America, Elizabeth? I am anxious for our spring flowers and here it is only January!

Oh, how we wanted so desperately to immigrate with your family back in '63. However, as you know, we just could not do it financially at that time. It has taken us longer than we thought to save for the monumental move. It has been our dream and goal for so long. William says possibly in two more years. Remember, we had no property to inherit and sell like you had with your family farm.

We have been busy all these years though, since you left Dierdorf, learning English like you suggested. Everything we do is geared to accomplishing our move to America. We have had long talks and many lists thrown out as William settles on a plan. The children are excited also.

You remember William's real concern over America's Civil War when you moved. It seemed to work out well for you both, even though you arrived in America